The SHKY Football Club, who have Trinidad and Tobago Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene as a director, confirmed yesterday that they will represent United Petrotrin in Pro League's youth division but dismissed any suggestion of a conflict of interest.
The Pro League CEO referred further questions on SKHY, who have operated a youth programme since 1987, to fellow director Joel Hyacinth who defended their decision to leave the Northern Football Association (NFA) to represent the Palo Seco-based outfit.
Hyacinth said SKHY hoped to benefit from the exposure of playing in the Pro League and suggested there might be a silver lining in representing a club based more than two hours drive from Port of Spain. He explained that the partnering clubs were yet to decide on a home base but insisted they were willing to play in Palo Seco.
"There are so many clubs in the country who are based in one zone and participate in other zones," said Hyacinth. "No final decision (about SKHY's new home ground) has been made yet but whether it is Toco or Blanchisseuse or wherever, it doesn't matter, we will play.
"Having to leave your normal base and go somewhere else to play is in itself exposure."
SKHY have participated in the NFA for the past five years and managed top five finishes in the boy's under-10, under-12, under-14 and under-16 competitions last season although they failed to win any league titles.
Hyacinth gave little away when asked about their new affiliation with Petrotrin.
"Why not Petrotrin?" he asked. "Petrotrin fits what SKHY fits into."
He refused to explain further.