Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Football => Topic started by: AB.Trini on March 17, 2005, 12:11:05 PM
-
As Caribbean nations we need to develop a sense of passion, pride, and self esteem about our perchance for football. We have the talent, we have the facilities and we have the knowledge. So why do we always have to rely on foreign coaches, and techniques to elevate our level and to bring a sense of salvation to our game?
I say we spend more time elevating the status, training and the economics for our players. We should look at forming a Caribbean Professional Football League (C.P.F.L.) Let's develop some regional rivalry and expand the skill base in our respective nations within the region.
-
This was tried back in the early 90s with Superstar Rangers, Alcons and some JA teams, can't remember details. Interest wasn't enough to sustain it, especially with thw travel demands. We need to focus on developing the domestic league. The Concacaf club championship is a goo intl tourney to gauge progress
-
I know it was attempted but the implementation and timining may have been prohibitive but it does not mean that we should not revisit it. If we could generate local support, domestic development and regional rivalries, this may generate some fan base and regional interets.
I suspect that one big factor would be the economic viability of teams been able to generate revenue to pay its players, cover travel expenses and sustaing the operations of these clubs.
These factors could be alleviated if each club had some cooperate sponsors. Or better yet if we want o do some reversed exploitation. Have teams gain an affiliation with a British, European or American teams and we could be "Farm" system for these clubs. What anatural way for our players to gain development and future employment.
-
As Caribbean nations we need to develop a sense of passion, pride, and self esteem about our perchance for football. We have the talent, we have the facilities and we have the knowledge. So why do we always have to rely on foreign coaches, and techniques to elevate our level and to bring a sense of salvation to our game?
I say we spend more time elevating the status, training and the economics for our players. We should look at forming a Caribbean Professional Football League (C.P.F.L.) Let's develop some regional rivalry and expand the skill base in our respective nations within the region.
I am convinced Trinidad & Tobago can have its own League. Historically, you would remember football at club level and Zonal level use to sell out the Parks. Valients vs Hurricanes sold out Skinner Park. SFA vs SFL sold out Mahica in Point, I even remember Village Olympics football fulling up the Park.
Football needs an identity, football clubs need an identity, with identity come a following. There is no football without FANS. Fans are responsible for demanding the standard, they create the athmosphere, they draw more fans etc etc. Lets be honest who is Joe Public? Having San Juan Jabloteh is good but they do not train and play in San juan.
T&T is much too small to have all these leagues, create a league that forces the best players to play against each other every Saturday or Sunday & Wednesday night FULL STOP. this league is run by a seperate governing body from TTFF (Important). Off the top of my head,  make the football County driven, this will  create an identity, the league should be no larger than 8-10 teams (premier) with a second division below that (promotion relegation). It may also be of interest for local small businesses men of the county to invest (much like the Premier did back in the early 80's). Clubs could also make $$$ from plays sold, traded, season tickets etc. Once the league is over have a well marketed Zonal competition for $$$ North, South, East ,West, Tobago. Put it on TV. From this group one can begin selecting and developing local squads (National teams). Now I know I gone into something else, but something must be done to bring people back to local football and Alberta Trini is right it has to start at home.
-
You have some ideas but I think you're not thinking it through.
1. Are you suggesting that our {pro league should be run by someone other than the TTFF?
Bad idea, as when the ineveitable club vs country conflicts occur, the clubs will not have to
answer o anyone.
2. To put anything on TV requires a lot of money. To show league games on TV requires
funds from advertisers, who aren't going to put said money up if not enough people are
watching.
3. The same goes for the private sector businesses investing money. You only spend
money when you can make a profit? Once again when a business spnsors a
team, it sees returns from advertising
The pro League is a few years old, It's not going to become a thriving, popular enterprise overnight. People always need to understand that these things require years to build.
As for a Caribbean pro league, what teams in the Caribbean can afford to regularly pay their players? What club teams in somewhere like Antigua or St. Vincent can afford to maintain a professonal club? How much money in the form of gate receipts are they going to pull in?
Let the other teams in the Caribbean take care of their own programmes. What T&T needs is better aminstration, well educated coaches at all levels, and well developed clubs with youth teams at all levels.
-
I know it was attempted but the implementation and timining may have been prohibitive but it does not mean that we should not revisit it. If we could generate local support, domestic development and regional rivalries, this may generate some fan base and regional interets.
All of that was tried. The clubs were sponsored and games were sometimes on television. Things might be marginally better now that the Pro League is establishing a model for a local pro league, but the cost of transport between the islands hasn't changed and if anything players salaries are higher, especially if we are trying the keep th ebest players away from the MLS and England.
What T&T needs is better aminstration, well educated coaches at all levels, and well developed clubs with youth teams at all levels.
You are right but the key ingredient is missing. The same thing that Alberta mentioned "If we could generate local support...".
The general population is just not interested in investing time and money into football. These clubs that make money off of football across the globe have people who have a vested interest in the fortunes of the team. So much so that they spend money on games, memorabilia, replica kit etc.
We just don't have that in Trinidad. If you want to have the stadium full throw a fete after the match it sure to full. Tell people it having party and every man there, but say watch football and support for football sake? Forget that, man have no time. As a people we like football, it nice, plenty fun when we winning but we don't love football and so it will always be an uphill struggle.
-
No this is critical to the emergence of football and commercial enterprise. If sponsors like Carib could sponsor a team, think of the merchandise and memorabilia that could be generated?
I think we ought to explore the marketing opportunities. In thos e bigger counties. The marketing and professional sports is a business!!!!! I am not sure if we have gotten to that level of blending our professional teams to the same degree.
Given the scales of economies, some ideas may not readily translate but on the other hand, what is making it a barrier?
-
I know it was attempted but the implementation and timining may have been prohibitive but it does not mean that we should not revisit it. If we could generate local support, domestic development and regional rivalries, this may generate some fan base and regional interets.
All of that was tried. The clubs were sponsored and games were sometimes on television. Things might be marginally better now that the Pro League is establishing a model for a local pro league, but the cost of transport between the islands hasn't changed and if anything players salaries are higher, especially if we are trying the keep th ebest players away from the MLS and England.
What T&T needs is better aminstration, well educated coaches at all levels, and well developed clubs with youth teams at all levels.
You are right but the key ingredient is missing. The same thing that Alberta mentioned "If we could generate local support...".
The general population is just not interested in investing time and money into football. These clubs that make money off of football across the globe have people who have a vested interest in the fortunes of the team. So much so that they spend money on games, memorabilia, replica kit etc.
We just don't have that in Trinidad. If you want to have the stadium full throw a fete after the match it sure to full. Tell people it having party and every man there, but say watch football and support for football sake? Forget that, man have no time. As a people we like football, it nice, plenty fun when we winning but we don't love football and so it will always be an uphill struggle.
A case of the chicken and egg maybe? But I think you can't get local support in droves for a new league, that will take time. The USA's MLS began the similarly, very poor quality play, little attendance, operating at a loss, but now they are seeing a slightly less poor quality matches, and a few teams have their own football-specific stadiums.
If the TTFF sticks with it people will show up, it will take years and so I understand the frustration some on here feel, but when these teams show that they're serious, people and business will get behind the team. I really don't expect much private sector support as they probably don't see any chance for them to get a return on their invenstment.
-
CONCACAF champions all time winners
All this talk about coaching and professionalism makes me wonder how true is it? Take a look at 1985 results; who won? little island like we. ummmmmm... what was it about the coaching back then? I wonder
CONCACAF Champions Cup All-Time Winners
Year – Winners
1962 – Guadalajara (MEX)
1963 – Racing (HAI)
1967 – Alianza (SLV)
1968 – Toluca (MEX)
1969 – Cruz Azul (MEX)
1970 – Cruz Azul (MEX)
1971 – Cruz Azul (MEX)
1972 – Olimpia (HON)
1973 – Transvaal (SUR)
1974 – Municipal (GUA)
1975 – Atlético Español (MEX)
1976 – CD Aguila (SLV)
1977 – Club América (MEX)
1978 – Universidad de Guadalajara (MEX), CSD Comunicaciones (GUA), Defence Force (TRI)
1979 – Deportivo FAS (SLV)
1980 – UNAM (MEX)
1981 – Transvaal (SUR)
1982 – UNAM (MEX)
1983 – Altante (MEX)
1984 – Violette (HAI)
1985 – Defence Force (TRINIDAD)
1986 – LD Alajuelense (CRC)
1987 – Club América (MEX)
1988 – CD Olimpia (HON)
1989 – UNAM (MEX)
1990 – Club América (MEX)
1991 – Puebla (MEX)
1992 – Club América (MEX)
1993 – Deportivo Saprissa (CRC)
1994 – CS Cartaginés (CRC)
1995 – Deportivo Saprissa (CRC)
1996 – Cruz Azul (MEX)
1997 – Cruz Azul (MEX)
1998 – D.C. United (USA)
1999 – Necaxa (MEX)
2000 – Los Angeles Galaxy (USA)
2002 – CF Pachuca (MEX)
2003 – CD Toluca (MEX)
2004 - LD Alajuelense (CRC)
Alberta Trini
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
CONCACAF champions all time winners
All this talk about coaching and professionalism makes me wonder how true is it? Take a look at 1985 results; who won? little island like we. ummmmmm... what was it about the coaching back then? I wonder
I don't quite understand what you're trying to get at. Defence force were CONCACAF Club Champions twice (once which they were the co-champs). Something which no T&T team has done in 20 years and you use this as proof of what?
If one were to come to a conclusion after viewing your list it's that Mexico has the best club teams in the region. They've done it 21 times and 5 out of the last 10 years.
So keep on thinking that T&T is OK as we are, with your mentality we'd remain stagnant and Antigua, St. Kitts and the like will improve and leave us behind (just like the US has in the last 15 years).
-
Wow Breds!!!!! I am just saying that given the past success we have had, there must have been some things our local coaches were doing right. Obviously with our lack of recent success, we have not maintained alevel of growth or our development has been stilted while other regional nations have caught up to our play.
-
Wow Breds!!!!! I am just saying that given the past success we have had, there must have been some things our local coaches were doing right. Obviously with our lack of recent success, we have not maintained alevel of growth or our development has been stilted while other regional nations have caught up to our play.
recent success?
One swallow does not make spring, nor does one fine day
-Aristotle
I see what you're trying to get at, but I just wish that Trinidadians would stop imagining that that we were some sort of powerhouse, and begin to put things in place so that we can actually do something meaningful.
-
Rocwell I do not understand what you are saying about the TTFF running leagues.
To my knowledge the Federation of no country runs their league.
The Bundesliga is not run by the German Federation nor is the Premier run by the English FA.
As a matter of fact correct me if I am wrong but the Pro League in Trinidad is not run by the TTFF.
Was it not W Connection who did not release players for National Team duty. Its just a matter off working out a proper schedule. The Federation may run the FA Cup as an example.
I agree on the administration part but the other aspects like properly trained coaches etc are a result of a proper run league with fans etc. After all properly educated coaches who act in a professional manner is a result of the environment. It is their livelyhood! Right now I do not know where the money is coming from to pay the so called pros in the League, because no one is watching the games.
Even college football is suffering from a lack of crowds. The pro league is how old now 5-6 years and I for one am always amused when they call it Professional. It is only professional because a couple of players are being paid. Now mind you some clubs are dam well run and I will call that a professional outfit, but to call the league is professional league is misguiding.
Back in 2003 I went to a couple of games one was an FA cup and it did not have 300 people. The other was a type of North vs South (Pro league) game that too did not have 300 people.
Football in T&T must find a way to bring people back to the game, consider this in the old days man could not stay at home and watch the best in the business every night, so the competition for the entertainment $$ real high.
Lets look for ways how we can achieve an objective, not place the stumbling blocks in our path before we even get started.
You say the business sector will only spend money if there is a return. Correct. In other countries $$$ spent in sport are tax deductable and falls under advertising. This could be the Governments contribution. This is just one example.
-
Rocwell I do not understand what you are saying about the TTFF running leagues.
To my knowledge the Federation of no country runs their league.
The Bundesliga is not run by the German Federation nor is the Premier run by the English FA.
As a matter of fact correct me if I am wrong but the Pro League in Trinidad is not run by the TTFF.
Was it not W Connection who did not release players for National Team duty. Its just a matter off working out a proper schedule. The Federation may run the FA Cup as an example.
I agree on the administration part but the other aspects like properly trained coaches etc are a result of a proper run league with fans etc. After all properly educated coaches who act in a professional manner is a result of the environment. It is their livelyhood! Right now I do not know where the money is coming from to pay the so called pros in the League, because no one is watching the games.
Even college football is suffering from a lack of crowds. The pro league is how old now 5-6 years and I for one am always amused when they call it Professional. It is only professional because a couple of players are being paid. Now mind you some clubs are dam well run and I will call that a professional outfit, but to call the league is professional league is misguiding.
Back in 2003 I went to a couple of games one was an FA cup and it did not have 300 people. The other was a type of North vs South (Pro league) game that too did not have 300 people.
Football in T&T must find a way to bring people back to the game, consider this in the old days man could not stay at home and watch the best in the business every night, so the competition for the entertainment $$ real high.
Lets look for ways how we can achieve an objective, not place the stumbling blocks in our path before we even get started.
You say the business sector will only spend money if there is a return. Correct. In other countries $$$ spent in sport are tax deductable and falls under advertising. This could be the Governments contribution. This is just one example.
Well said and fair enough
-
What about these ideas?
.
1n 1989 I watched a political debate in Brazil where on of the candidates presented many projects. The opponent asked the candidate how he planned on getting the money for the projects since he was poor. The answer was intelligent and came quickly, "the financial resources are not in the pocket of the one who manages, but in his mind." Creativity, transparency, well-developed plans, and realistic information between money spent and money that comes in, make the manager a winner.
Some ideas
1 Partnership with companies offering exclusive publicity.
2 Pre-sold annual tickets for games that will take place in Jamaica Football Federation
3 Partnership with the orange bowl in Miami, RFK in Washington, QPR in London and Varsity on Toronto for the use in tournaments and games.
4 Early sale of TV rights for friendly games to an international TV station.
5 Stores for the commercialisation of all products with the name of Reggae Boyz.
Project Development for more players:
It is obvious that in this case there is a human aspect, but we can compare the formation of a player with the production of a car. There are steps that must be respected otherwise the line of production will stop. Imagine putting the body of the car without first putting the seats, it would get complicated. Also, we cannot forget those things that are extremely necessary. Have you ever thought of a car with cassette player, AC, bit no engine. The football player is the same, we must look at the things that he cannot do without, his physical and mental structure, as well as fundements(fundamentals) before those things that are merely show off.
Project BMF (mind, feet, body) - these athletes between 15 and 18 years old will stay in a house where they will live and receive assistance:
Social -- A social assistance will gather their family histories. School
will be provided close to the housing facility. The social assistant will
arrange for regular visits with the family.
Clinical -- A report on their medical history will be made. Every six months there will be examined for urine, faeces, eyes, ears, and others.
Cardio -- Annual electrocardiograms, Family history will be examined.
Orthopedics -- Treatment to prevent problems. Measurement of bone structure.
Nutrition -- Family history will be examined. Balanced diet according to the training phase, vitamin supplements. Measurement of body fat.
Dental -- Regular exams, hygiene orientation.
Psychology -- Family history will be examined. Counseling, vocational tests.
Religion -- Participation in a church close to the housing facility (type to be chosen by
the athlete) regular counseling sessions with Rev. Al Miller.
Rescueof -- Notion of duties and rights, legal help for families, orientation about work
Citizenship laws.
In this project there are all the necessary steps for the formation of a proper medical department, one which will be able to provide its services to all the athletes. The MBF will have the following divisions which will work together: Reception and diagnostics, general clinic, cardiology, orthopedics, physiology labs, sports nutrition, psychology, religious, legal.
This housing facility can be called "the workshop of men". This name is appropriate because the attention will be given to the human being in general, the player will be a consequence of a well guided man.
By the way (I): "Not even democracy or market economy have spread so widely around the continents as has football". This statement is from Pascall Bonifarik, one of the 30 thinking minds that were united by the magazine Maniere De Vo sponsored by "Le monde diplomatique". Another wonderful statement came from Gerard Ernault, chief editor if the France Football. He said, "football is the most simple, tolerant, flowing, democratic, and improbable sport." The greatest minds increase our desire to see a strong and passionate football in Jamaica, as in the rest of the world.
5. How and when to introduce the professional league:
We must set goals to be met by clubs so that they may participate of the first professional league in 2000-2001.
Goals.
98-99
1. Creation of an U-20
2. Fields with fences around them
3. Locker rooms for home and visitor teams
99-2000
1. Creation of an U-20
2. Seats for 5,000 spectators
3. One training field
4. Playing field in perfect condition
2000-01
1. All players must have contracts with their teams
2. All staff working under contracts: Coach. Assistant coach, physical trainer, doctor, masseur and goalkeeper's coach.
By the way (II):
Football is a passion of the planet, the most universal entertainment, the sport of the crowds, or a complete social fact. A research by "The Economist" revealed that the biggest reason for pride among English youngsters is not the great conquest of the British Empire, but football."
5. Formation, professionalisation and improvement of staff members:
The greatest difficulty that I have found in this is the lack of understanding many people have about professional football. There is confusion between profession and hobby, competence and love, training and scrimmage. The football professionals are like any other. Just because I like medicine and have been to hospitals, does not mean that I can decide from one day to the next that I will start to prescribe medication. This requires knowledge, talent, availability and love. A profession and life often become one, bringing happiness to the individual.
Well Prof.Simoes, I am quick to admit that my knowledge of football is at the hobby
level (therefore when I see amatuer football, I can indentify it easily) maybe some day
I can put myself up to the professional level. I am the eternal learner.
-
Caribbean Football league will not work because of traveling back and forth to play games is costly for the teams with very little fan support this league wouldn’t last a season they already tried it in the early 90’s we have to develop our own Pro and allow the best players from the other islands to earn a living and boast the game in T&T. if the league is a local the standard will remain the same but if we have foreign influx not a whole lot but some well benefit. And maybe one day get a TV contact to broadcast Pro league game to other Caribbean islands, just think about if we have the best Caribbean player just maybe there country mite want to see them play.
-
I think this is the way forward for football in the region. I think that the islands are to small in population to suppot their own league and having a regional league would be better for football. I was supprised to know what professional player are making in jamaica ..practically nothing many players have second jobs. So i think havin a 15 team league spread throughout the caribbean including Cuba and Martinique and Haiti could only improve football in the region. 1) Quality of players because the best players from these islands would be on these teams.2) Players would make better living.3) Crowd support would improve drastically. etc Actually i only see the up sides ...we need fresh ideas at the helm ...What you guys think ....laterzzzzzzzzz
-
See the following postings
http://www.socawarriorssc.com/swonline/smf/index.php?topic=185.msg724#msg724
-
thanks alberta ..i missed that one !!!
-
They had this when I was growing up, Alcons used to play in the league, the stadium was empty.
I do not think our football needs to get bigger, it needs to get smaller.
Grassroots level.
Organize a Down the hill verus up the hill fete match and get the entire community to come and support.
we need to build support at a grass roots level.
let me have a vested interest in the team.
-
They had this when I was growing up, Alcons used to play in the league, the stadium was empty.
I do not think our football needs to get bigger, it needs to get smaller.
Grassroots level.
Organize a Down the hill verus up the hill fete match and get the entire community to come and support.
we need to build support at a grass roots level.
let me have a vested interest in the team.
That is Kicks yes ;D ;D
It had meh laughin.
That thing go work for youth teams, BUT in this world of football you have to have ah TOP LEAGUE. Full Stop
The PFL is the right approach. You have to have a league where the best players play against the best constantly.
What is needed is more incentive to play. The teams presently do not face demotion, the Super League teams don't get promoted. And when you win them what?
Something good would be just like ah Caribbean League but in the format of a Champions League. Where the top 4 from T&T, Top 4 from Jamaica, Maybe get Cuba contributing some teams and then the small islands with one team a piece.
Then have Group games and then Knockout.
Get sponsors from across the Caribbean and North America. And TV rights.]
Our PFL teams don't have a long enough season and there isn't enough incentives.
But keep the Local Leagues so there is more to incentive. Then
-
I think this is the way forward for football in the region. I think that the islands are to small in population to suppot their own league and having a regional league would be better for football. I was supprised to know what professional player are making in jamaica ..practically nothing many players have second jobs. So i think havin a 15 team league spread throughout the caribbean including Cuba and Martinique and Haiti could only improve football in the region. 1) Quality of players because the best players from these islands would be on these teams.2) Players would make better living.3) Crowd support would improve drastically. etc Actually i only see the up sides ...we need fresh ideas at the helm ...What you guys think ....laterzzzzzzzzz    Â
onlya few clubs in Jamaica could be viewed as semi-professional at best. Even so, at these clubs, only the senior players are given perks like car and a decent salary. Most of the clubs are semi-pro....players do have second jobs. For a caribbean league to be viable, it has to be fully professional, each player has to be paid decent money. Also,factor in things such as airfare between theislands for game. Many teams in Ja can hardly afford to transport their tesam between parishes. Now youare talking about travelling 3 hrs from Jamaica to Trinidad for a game. thts nuff $$$$
-
Something good would be just like ah Caribbean League but in the format of a Champions League. Where the top 4 from T&T, Top 4 from Jamaica, Maybe get Cuba contributing some teams and then the small islands with one team a piece.
Then have Group games and then Knockout.
Get sponsors from across the Caribbean and North America. And TV rights.]
Our PFL teams don't have a long enough season and there isn't enough incentives.
But keep the Local Leagues so there is more to incentive. Then
I like that idea, even folks who may not go out to see two local sides play, with the right marketing and promotion will go out to see W Connection play a side from J'ca, dat could work. And if you get Digicel, and KFC, and BWIA and Air Jamaica and the likes of them behind it there will be more money to be made and paid. Heck winning that cup might be the only chance some of the teams have to make some money so it will be competitive, and it will instill national and regional pride.
-
They had this when I was growing up, Alcons used to play in the league, the stadium was empty.
I do not think our football needs to get bigger, it needs to get smaller.
Grassroots level.
Organize a Down the hill verus up the hill fete match and get the entire community to come and support.
we need to build support at a grass roots level.
let me have a vested interest in the team.
well said.
-
How about making it a Caribbean community league. Increase the talent. Then we can truly get behind them.
CLubs with free transfer of players between territories.
Maybe 3 from Trinidad, 3 from Jamaica etc...
Not a small Busta cup like how they have with cricket. Make it a real professional league.
-
too much travelling.other countries cant afford it
-
They tried a Caribbean league before it didn’t work the PRO League is setting a example to how a PRO League should be ran by having the team show they have money to play the players for the year is very important but most team can’t afford to pay players that why teams like Rangers can’t take part that just mean you have to get a big sponsor to finance the team or come up with a good marketing plan to get the money to support the team. DON’T WORRY IF T&T qualify all football will benefit in the country just watch and you will see
-
yeh but a proper caribbean champions league would be good even if u had it like at the end of the season to save on the travel. hold a group in trinidad,jamaica,barbados,cuba 16 teams. save on the traveling. winner goes to concacaf. would be nice :beermug:
-
The major problem of the last league funny enough was TRAVEL.The travelling between islands is a disaster.Teams were always arriving late for games or having flights cancel.The cost was extremely high.I remember going to a game in the stadium with Caledonia playing a Guyanese team and the game was delayed an hour because the team had just arrived.Men had to leave Piarco and go straight to the stadium to play game.This obviously led to lack of crowd support and the wole domino effect.
-
Marketing is another big factor.
Look how many ppl came out to watch the last tnt mex game.
With reasonable prices, and a good marketing strategy we could draw the crowds. Particularly in smaller islands where the night life eh so happenin, a football lime could get big crowds
-
we cant even get our top team to compete in the concacaf champions league due to expenses. how are we supposed to have a carib club league.
-
for the caribbean to reach a decent standard of club and international football it needs to take one step at a time. if u look at recent world cups what is the obvious thing 95% of the countries have in common with the exception of USA? they are all mad about football. Trinidad is not, although it is gettin on the path but that has to continue even if we was to loose to Bahrain and if we win it must carry on after the world cup. the ting about Trinidad is on a national scale just like carnival it seems to be a seasonal ting. carnival at a point in the year and football every 2 years. we are true football fans so for us that doesnt apply but im talkin about the genral public. Trinidad is only 1.2 million if 50.00 people play football and we have our current team, our chances of producing a few better players increases if 150.000 people play football. its a culture ting. look wen cricket was totally our culture, west indies cut so much ass in that 30 years wen we dominated against countries who are fanatical about cricket with huge populations, austrailia,s africa, indian england the list goes on. u check the population on the english speakin caribbean. london has more people. young players have to learn the game from young technically. wen i play in trinidad 80% of the people playing just have no clue, they have skill,pace, strength but they simply are not good footballers u can argue if u want but its the truth. u come to england and watch a kick around in the park, they would put a decent cut ass on half our professional league. imagine if that same 80% played club football from young and trained thats a much bigger talent pool to choose from. if we dont wanna wait 20 years for it to be embedded into our culture then we must impose it, and the best way to start is by making it to the world cup.
-
Cyar work given the funding available........
Look at North East Stars, why you feel they drop out.
Man ent studying football.
-
What the mind conceives the person achieves:
http://www.socawarriorssc.com/swonline/smf/index.php?topic=2313.msg15606#msg15606
-
That is good idea but yuh have to look at the travelling to each game....it could be like a champions league thing with more teams coming from higher federations...just a thought
-
A league like this may diminish the ' bitter' hate directed to some countries and build 'friendly' rivalaries instead.
-
why is it we as the richest island in the caribbean and having jack warner as apart of fifa,why we dont have our pro league being show live on tv? jamaica have it,when we playing in trini we have to listen on d net or go on youtbe after u see all jamaica game u can see on tv cable not tv6 or u can go on d net and watch it llive
-
A league like this may diminish the ' bitter' hate directed to some countries and build 'friendly' rivalaries instead.
i guess celtic and rangers fans will agree with u
or maybe barcelona and madrid , this list can go on and on
-
We already have a CONCACAF champions league. That makes the most sense right now. No point Monserrat flying in to T&T to play Tobago Utd. for only 20 people to show up to de game.
-
With all dem pro teams in Trinidad,Jamaica,Puerto Rico plus a team from Antigua and even Bermuda and RedJet offering cheap fares in the region,we cyar have a 8-10 team league?
-
yea i was thinking of that the odda day, good idea, but u still hadda deal with plenty other expenses....
But the question will be who will make up the list of teams - only the ones who can afford it?
What will happen to the other teams who can make the cut? They also employ some very good footballers...
-
From:
http://futbolboricua.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/jeffrey-webb-habla-de-enfocarse-en.html
Una liga Caribeña profesional y buscamos entre 8 a 10 clubes en la región que elevarán el nivel de juego a un nuevo nivel. Claro está, tenemos algunos equipos, como el Antigua Barracuda, los Puerto Rico Islanders, jugando en ligas estadounidenses. Pero en realidad, debemos buscar desarrollar nuestra propia liga, y esto es una colaboración entre CONCACAF y la CFU que debemos trabajar.
Translated to English:
For a professional Caribbean league, we need 8 to 10 clubs in the region to raise quality of play to a new level. Of course, we have some teams like Antigua Barracuda and the Puerto Rico Islanders playing in the American leagues. In actuality, we are developing the new league, it's a collaboration between CONCACAF and the CFU - we must work together.
-
Thanks for the interview. Actually the entire article was pretty interesting as i didnt know that Digicel's sponsorship with the CFU has ended, maybe that's why there hasn't been much information about this year's cup. The idea about the CFU league is something that has been floated for some time but i doubt it will happen. If the CFU is having trouble getting Digicel to resign for the cup i doubt they will find enough sponsors for the CFU league. They will also need to convince the Jamaican teams to join which will be hard if the teams are just losing lots of money. However i would love this idea if it actually happened as it would definitely raise the standard and profile of the CFU teams. Hopefully there would be a way for those of us based in the US and around the world to view these games.
-
Really nice idea. Getting it to work is another issue
-
Really nice idea. Getting it to work is another issue
ENT
-
This would be great.....however, I can't figure out a way to cover the travel expenses for each teams away games. It's unlikely that the home team will generate enough gate money to cover the visitors flights and hotel costs. I know there would be sponsors, but at every round, you'd have to pay for 5 teams travel costs and that would be expensive.
-
This would be great.....however, I can't figure out a way to cover the travel expenses for each teams away games. It's unlikely that the home team will generate enough gate money to cover the visitors flights and hotel costs. I know there would be sponsors, but at every round, you'd have to pay for 5 teams travel costs and that would be expensive.
Yuh regionalize the teams so yuh have a south east region: Guyana TNT Grenada Barbados n StKitts St Vincent
Mid Regional: Martinique Guadalope
North Region; Jamaica Haiti Cuba Bahamas
Regional play then two top teams regional playoffs
We have to look at ways to make footbal in the Caribbean more competitive...soo Mexico going to be in a class by themselves
I talking about this since 2005 but people too myopic in their vision to see only impediments asoppose to possibilities; Imagine the regional carrier and international airlines coming on board ( fuh get CAL they supposedly bankrupt) Think of regional business like Carib coming together to sponsor this and putting a marketing squeeze on British and American products or maybe British and American companies market the heck out of this to saturate teh Caribbean market.
The proposed Football team: "Caribbean Hurricanes"
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2005, 10:03:27 AM »
Quote
Modify
Remove
Once more I raise the question as to the merits of having a strong formidable REGIONAL Caribbean football team.
Realistically, would any of our national football team reach the level to compete consistently with the likes of Brazil, England, France, Germany, Italy Argentina OR Spain?
Let's carefully examine the development and growth of soccer in our region with an objective mind set. With the exception of Jamacia at a WCQ appearance, what have the other islands been able to accomplish? As individidual islands do we have the depth and players resources to keep going out on our own with the hope that one day we'll be consistently be on the big stage?
Could we not develop and train a strong regional contingent to compete internationally at a level that would be successful?
What are the merits and down side to a venture as proposed? Given the players we have in the region today what would the make up of a regional team look like? I am proposing we call the team the "CARIBBEAN HURRICANES"
Modify message
« Last Edit: July 09, 2005, 10:21:34 AM by AlbertaTrini »
Time to look into the Caribbean Hurricanes
-
http://www.socawarriors.net/forum/index.php?topic=26301.msg724;topicseen#msg724
I proposed this long time but ah set ah nah sayers now it back on the board and papayo it looking like ah good idea. Steups!!!!!
-
http://www.socawarriors.net/forum/index.php?topic=26301.msg724;topicseen#msg724
I proposed this long time but ah set ah nah sayers now it back on the board and papayo it looking like ah good idea. Steups!!!!!
Bro, this had been tried before. It last for about 2 yrs. I did remember the TT team did win it. But the league fell thru for the obvious reason of the expense in running the league. I know the people of the islands would love to have a Carib. league. But transport logistics and cost does make a mockery of the endeavour. Look at how difficult it is to run the Carib Champios league for the Concacaf. We need sponsorship to do this. Airlines giving reduce price for tickets. Hotels doing the same thing. The local businesses of the various island taking up the ground transportation and various miscellaneous expenses. It can be done by some islands, not all. Untill we get a middle estern benefactor, I don't see that happening. But there are always people who want to do it. Planning and MONEY is the issue.
-
It lasted three years ;D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_Professional_Football_League
The only people who made money out of it were the CFU
-
this is too expensive for clubs to travel to island to island. Sorry, no future in this
-
this is too expensive for clubs to travel to island to island. Sorry, no future in this
Plus only Trini was winning.
joking aside. The league needed a massive infusion of money. That is why I said that if they can't get a wealthy middle eastern supporter, nothing eh go happen.
-
There were several administrative problems with the league.Inter island transport was astrocious.It was too expensive and unreliable.I remember a match schedule to start at 4:00pm and a team leaving Guyana at that time. Crowd in de stadium unaware there has been a delay.ah was hoping Redjet or whatever dey name would have help solve that problem.I still like de idea.
-
Caribbean could have professional league in three-four years - Webb
By Mike Collett (Reuters)
A professional Caribbean league spanning the mainly island nations would boost football's development in the region and could be a reality in three or four years, CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb said on Tuesday.
Webb said although the idea was still in its infancy, he was setting up a commission to examine whether it could become a reality. A previous proposal for a professional league failed to materialise three years ago.
During a break at CONCACAF's Sports Summit of its 41 member associations, Webb told journalists on a conference call there was support for the idea from ex-players from the region like Dwight Yorke who played for Manchester United and Aston Villa.
"We will do a full analysis to see how realistic it is and then establish some strategic business plan so this could become a reality in three to four years," said Webb.
"We have heard from various players, such as Dwight Yorke, about the impact a professional league might have had on his career. Perhaps if we had had a professional set-up during his development his talents may have been even greater.
"We have so much talent in the region, the game here needs a professional league, a professional approach. It would be good for the Caribbean to have a professional league, if we could sustain it."
Only four Caribbean countries have appeared in the World Cup in its near 84-year history: Cuba (1938), Haiti (1974), Jamaica (1998) and Trinidad & Tobago (2006).
Webb added: "We have had only two countries from the English-speaking Caribbean qualify for the World Cup, and let's not have to wait another 100 years before we get that level of success. We are looking for some progress.
"We are hoping to fast-track this (professional league). We need economic partners and the support of governments.
"The infrastructure would have to be set up and we'd be looking to some experts to help develop a platform, a business plan and something that we believe could be sustained.
"We will set up a task force or commission to look at the sustainability as far as the financial aspects, franchisees, market size, infrastructure and the format of the league are concerned."
The CONCACAF confederation comprises countries from North and Central America, and the Caribbean.
A total of 31 nations make up the Caribbean Football Union, including associate member Bonaire and three on the South American continent: Surinam, Guyana and French Guiana.
-
One word, CPL (Cricket) , something like that will pull rel crowd
-
It's not feasible - they can't even get clubs that can afford the Caribbean Champions League let alone a whole league system.
If we assume (for the sake of argument) that a plane ticket to most islands from one island is around $300 US and that a team needs to send 23 people (underestimation - 11 players, 5 subs, and 7 technical staff (manager, ass manager, a coach, a physio, the chairman and two others). Right there is $6900 US, but there might also be visa costs, extra baggage, insurance, and taxis/travel to include. Also there's the cost of the hotel for all of them.
Lets say clubs charge $5 per ticket (probably an over-estimation), so you'd need to get 2760 people into the game to cover just the travel costs (as I'm assuming revenue is split 50-50 as per the European norm in cup games). These costs need to happen for half the games - so how many clubs will be in it? 10 clubs means $34,500 USD travel in a year absolute bear minimum, again i think this is really low as players are often paid on a match-by-match basis (money for playing) rather than full-time contracts. Moreover, where does the money for administering this competition come from? Prize money?
There really needs to be a focus on domestic football in these countries - the infrastructure isn't even there for domestic football so how are they going to organise this? How can the organisation gain the trust of advertisers with Jack Warner's legacy of embezzlement and fraud? How can clubs that don't pull 500 people for CONCACAF Champions League matches or Caribbean Champions League pull 2760 to matches? What's the attendance at T&T national team matches, because the stadiums usually don't look sold out? This is a glittery fantasy that hasn't been thought out - it's agreeable because it looks like a win-win for everyone, but on paper smaller nations will go bankrupt very quickly and what'll be left are the big island nations - T&T, Jamaica, Haiti, and possibly some of the French Antilles (I imagine Cuba won't be interested).
-
It could happen if people with deep pockets who really love football willing to spend some money on the game. The league would have to be condensed. Meaning 10 to 12 teams or even 8 in the beginning. Limit 2 teams per country if they can afford it.. Winners and runners-up get automatic bid to Concacaf CL. 3rd and 4th play in the CFU leg against the various club champions for a spot in the Concacaf CL.
But transport logistics is the big problem, I think
-
Waste of time and money. Can't see this idea working. It's too expensive, and they will be loosing more than making money.
-
Might be useful for smaller nations who's clubs have to play each other all the time. But it would finish the Pro League and there would be an expanded Super League. The T&T player pool would reduce in my opinion, especially if the clubs involved fielded foreign players in their teams (which they would feel compelled to do to compete).
There may be a case for a league comprising the likes of St Lucia, Grenada etc and the winners go through to the Champions League.
-
To be honest T&T has one of the smallest top leagues in the Caribbean - even St Kitts and Nevis can get 10 teams in their top flight. I've never understood the small league size in T&T, at least until I realised how many cups you guys have! :p
-
To be honest T&T has one of the smallest top leagues in the Caribbean - even St Kitts and Nevis can get 10 teams in their top flight. I've never understood the small league size in T&T, at least until I realised how many cups you guys have! :p
As I understand it, I'm not even sure if Jamaica has a fully professional league. When you compare leagues with other islands, you have to include our Super League. In fact, the Super League is probably the equivalent to the other island leagues.
The Pro League is willing to expand, but clubs cannot afford to meet the financial criteria. In order to prevent situations like we had with Tobago and SouthEnd, clubs have to provide financial guarantees. One of the reasons for this is to protect players, because if their club goes bust, they cannot play for a new club until the transfer window. (Willis Plaza is suffering from this problem. His club went bankrupt, but we cannot sign him until January, even after appealing to FIFA)
-
Isn't the decision to allow free-agent transfers down to the individual FA's? Or is there paperwork in terms of registration that isn't sorted out due to the bankruptcy?
Interesting about the financial criteria - is that why Joe Public don't move up? The Super League is definitely better than the majority of Caribbean leagues and it's a shame you can't get in a proper promotion-relegation btw them and the Pro League, especially given how exciting the 'big six' seems for Super League promotion
-
Isn't the decision to allow free-agent transfers down to the individual FA's? Or is there paperwork in terms of registration that isn't sorted out due to the bankruptcy?
Interesting about the financial criteria - is that why Joe Public don't move up? The Super League is definitely better than the majority of Caribbean leagues and it's a shame you can't get in a proper promotion-relegation btw them and the Pro League, especially given how exciting the 'big six' seems for Super League promotion
TT Pro League and TTFA sanctioned Plaza's move, but FIFA wouldn't allow it. But he can join a team in a country where the transfer window is open such as....Vietnam!
-
damn them! That really sucks... Does he know Yohance Marshal is in Vietnam looking for a team now? They could converse lol
-
Ent I. Saying this could happen if people stop looking at barriers and look at feasible solutions. Little Antigua could put together a side to play in aisle .
-
Well guys! What is this about. From Internet express.
Companies to start Caribbean League.
T&T Express Reports.
A California based company and a firm registered in Barbados have come together to stage a professional football league for teams in the Caribbean.
The Caribbean Football Trust Limited with offices in Florida and Canada and Concorde Sports Agency head quartered in Beverly Hills say plans are in the pipeline for a kickoff date of September 2015.
Both organisations have already signed an agreement and are pressing ahead with plans for the tournament expected to attract 20 teams competing for the league title and over three million US dollars in prize money.
The organisers say prize monies are expected to grow to five million US dollars after the first three years.
The proposed league, dubbed Major League Futbol, (MLS) will be the subject of a meeting in Orlando, Florida February 25 involving the Caribbean Football Trust, an advisory group of investors, regional government officials and other stakeholders of the league concept.
Concorde Sports Agency is a sports marketing firm which focuses on domestic and international player representation, player scouting, image rights and branding.
-
Well guys! What is this about. From Internet express.
Companies to start Caribbean League.
T&T Express Reports.
A California based company and a firm registered in Barbados have come together to stage a professional football league for teams in the Caribbean.
The Caribbean Football Trust Limited with offices in Florida and Canada and Concorde Sports Agency head quartered in Beverly Hills say plans are in the pipeline for a kickoff date of September 2015.
Both organisations have already signed an agreement and are pressing ahead with plans for the tournament expected to attract 20 teams competing for the league title and over three million US dollars in prize money.
The organisers say prize monies are expected to grow to five million US dollars after the first three years.
The proposed league, dubbed Major League Futbol, (MLS) will be the subject of a meeting in Orlando, Florida February 25 involving the Caribbean Football Trust, an advisory group of investors, regional government officials and other stakeholders of the league concept.
Concorde Sports Agency is a sports marketing firm which focuses on domestic and international player representation, player scouting, image rights and branding.
I wouldn't hold your breath - travel for 21 people 19 times across the Caribbean is quite an investment, and that's a lot of prize money without any announced sponsors yet
-
The CFTL®’s newly established MLF will initially start its competitive season in 2015 with a minimum of eighteen (18) clubs in three (3) groups of six (6) clubs each and a maximum of twenty (20) clubs in four (4) groups of five (5) clubs. The MLF shall be operational for a period between September and July of each year. The first official competitive season shall consist of scheduled games three (3) days per week: Friday, Sunday and Wednesday; all double header games. The MLF shall organize, in addition to the regular season.
The MLF shall secure national teams and top clubs from selected Caribbean countries to make up the eighteen (18) or twenty (20) member league. The targeted countries for the first five (5) years are as follows: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana, St Vincent, Suriname, French Guiana, Grenada, St. Bart’s and Puerto Rico. All of these could choose to participate with their young developing national teams (meaning locally-based players) and/or new/old clubs to include top elite players. The more developed football countries, such as Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Haiti can participate in the MLF through selected franchise clubs. Players from other CONCACAF countries, such as Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras and Venezuela will be considered as non-import players within the MLF structure. This will secure a Caribbean and Central American player infusion that is so badly needed in the Caribbean and Central American region.
http://www.cftlmlf.com/
-
The CFTL®’s newly established MLF will initially start its competitive season in 2015 with a minimum of eighteen (18) clubs in three (3) groups of six (6) clubs each and a maximum of twenty (20) clubs in four (4) groups of five (5) clubs. The MLF shall be operational for a period between September and July of each year. The first official competitive season shall consist of scheduled games three (3) days per week: Friday, Sunday and Wednesday; all double header games. The MLF shall organize, in addition to the regular season.
The MLF shall secure national teams and top clubs from selected Caribbean countries to make up the eighteen (18) or twenty (20) member league. The targeted countries for the first five (5) years are as follows: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana, St Vincent, Suriname, French Guiana, Grenada, St. Bart’s and Puerto Rico. All of these could choose to participate with their young developing national teams (meaning locally-based players) and/or new/old clubs to include top elite players. The more developed football countries, such as Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Haiti can participate in the MLF through selected franchise clubs. Players from other CONCACAF countries, such as Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras and Venezuela will be considered as non-import players within the MLF structure. This will secure a Caribbean and Central American player infusion that is so badly needed in the Caribbean and Central American region.
http://www.cftlmlf.com/
So everyone but the biggest basically using their national team?
-
Next the League owners will own all rights to young [all] players just like MLS. From the initial countries to be involved, this seems to target a relatively untapped market in "digging" out potential players. More established countries like T&T and JA are already a target by major clubs in signing players internationally and in understanding the market of agent-player-transfers-fees-loans-clauses etc.
Smart business move, Selling 1 player every 3-5 years will show a very good ROI. Will like to see their development plan to assist clubs in developing players.
Good Idea.
-
Caribbean Football League Case Study: http://www.concordesportsagency.com/caribbean-soccer-league-case-study.pdf
-
So, how will this affect the Trini pro league. Which TT teams you think will or can play in this league.
-
More interestingly, how will effect CFU qualification? It is not a national league. Which Football Association would guide its rules? Which F.A. would confirm international transfers?
What would happen if F.A.'s decided not to recognise it?
This would be a unique league with unique problems.
I think the overall concept is good, but it could be the death of Pro League and other leagues. What would happen, for example, if they attracted Digicel who then redirected their resources towards this league?
I know it's dog eat dog, but it would also create opposition.
-
So, how will this affect the Trini pro league. Which TT teams you think will or can play in this league.
Maybe the winner of the TTPL league gets to represent T&T with support from the PL. Or Maybe like EPL (top 3 automatic birth to Cl and 5th place to Europa) the top 2 goes to CONCACAF Champions league then 3rd and 4th gets to go to the MLF or something along that line.
-
Given they're talking about franchise teams it's likely they'd be totally new teams tied to their legal entity rather than community a la the MLS
-
So, how will this affect the Trini pro league. Which TT teams you think will or can play in this league.
Maybe the winner of the TTPL league gets to represent T&T with support from the PL. Or Maybe like EPL (top 3 automatic birth to Cl and 5th place to Europa) the top 2 goes to CONCACAF Champions league then 3rd and 4th gets to go to the MLF or something along that line.
This wouldn't work. Like the Pro League, the first criteria would be paying the entrance fee! Also, in theory, you could end up with 6 or 7 teams from one country.
This will be a members only club. Also, presumably, the T&T entrants would attract the best T&T players so the Pro League winners may be way below the standard of the MLF clubs. If this is replicated across the Caribbean it could dilute the quality of CFU and Champions League.
The only way to make it work is for CFU to appoint this league as the qualifying route for Champions League, which wouldn't be fair to the smaller nations.
-
As of now I only see one team in TT that can go into that league. Connection. They seem to have a sound financial foundation. Sharks have a nice collection players, but this team now started last year. Unless FS, can get Barclays bank to sponsor him it will be tough for them. All the others are barely surviving. It would have be nice to have a Sando team, but they don't even have a team in the pro-league. I think DF can play but with the recent situation in TT, I don't see them being part of this league.
As far as Concacf CL. If this league really get started, then the winners and runners up should get automatic berth to the CL. The other berths should be taken by the winners and runners up of the CFU club championship.
I hope the Concorde group has an Arab sheik in their engines, because this enterprise will take a lot of money. This is not like the cricket with limited franchises. And cricket is a English Caribbean thing. The other just don't understand the nuances of the game. Theis enterprise is set to transcend liguistic and cultural barriers. The travel cost will be a bitch(sorry ladies). Accommodation. Proper grounds. No Vai-kee-vai fixtures.
I feel the CFU is already on board with this. The guys in the northern Caribbean already set to go. They already controlling the CFU. They are closer to the US market and they have that tourist travel which help them more than the eastern and southern Caribbean.
-
So, how will this affect the Trini pro league. Which TT teams you think will or can play in this league.
Maybe the winner of the TTPL league gets to represent T&T with support from the PL. Or Maybe like EPL (top 3 automatic birth to Cl and 5th place to Europa) the top 2 goes to CONCACAF Champions league then 3rd and 4th gets to go to the MLF or something along that line.
This wouldn't work. Like the Pro League, the first criteria would be paying the entrance fee! Also, in theory, you could end up with 6 or 7 teams from one country.
This will be a members only club. Also, presumably, the T&T entrants would attract the best T&T players so the Pro League winners may be way below the standard of the MLF clubs. If this is replicated across the Caribbean it could dilute the quality of CFU and Champions League.
The only way to make it work is for CFU to appoint this league as the qualifying route for Champions League, which wouldn't be fair to the smaller nations.
How do T&T teams qualify for the CCL now?
-
So, how will this affect the Trini pro league. Which TT teams you think will or can play in this league.
Maybe the winner of the TTPL league gets to represent T&T with support from the PL. Or Maybe like EPL (top 3 automatic birth to Cl and 5th place to Europa) the top 2 goes to CONCACAF Champions league then 3rd and 4th gets to go to the MLF or something along that line.
This wouldn't work. Like the Pro League, the first criteria would be paying the entrance fee! Also, in theory, you could end up with 6 or 7 teams from one country.
This will be a members only club. Also, presumably, the T&T entrants would attract the best T&T players so the Pro League winners may be way below the standard of the MLF clubs. If this is replicated across the Caribbean it could dilute the quality of CFU and Champions League.
The only way to make it work is for CFU to appoint this league as the qualifying route for Champions League, which wouldn't be fair to the smaller nations.
How do T&T teams qualify for the CCL now?
Top two teams in the Pro League, which is recognised by TTFA as its representative professional league
-
I agree FS, this league could possibly destroy all Caribbean leagues. The thing is this really only affects the pro league. Most other leagues are not really professional at all. Concacaf stated that they would support a Caribbean league therefore all the FA's would probably be pushed to approve this. After reading the case study i think it is promising but alot of things look promising on paper. The fact that this competition would have national teams playing as clubs intrigues me. Playing in the USL helped Antigua, and other countries would probably benefit from this format as well. Plus the competition would probably be stronger than any domestic league. But I just dont think that it is profitable so i doubt it would work.
-
Caribbean Football League Case Study: http://www.concordesportsagency.com/caribbean-soccer-league-case-study.pdf
That read like a sophomore business management class report.
This seems to depend on a lot of political maneuvering and rewriting of policies and laws, not to mention the modification of long existing areas of contention between nations.
-
Damien Hughes of CFU asks the companies involved to contact him.
CFU general secretary Damien Hughes, issued the note of caution after two companies, earlier this week, announced plans to start a professional league in September next year.
“For franchises to be set up in countries they have to go through national associations who have to get sanctioning from CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA,” said Hughes.
“And we have not engaged any company anywhere in the world to commence or even explore the commencement of a professional league.”
The Caribbean Football Trust Limited, with offices in Florida and Canada, and Concorde Sports Agency, headquartered in Beverly Hills, say the proposed league, dubbed Major League Futbol (MLF), is expected to attract 20 teams from across the region vying for over US$3 million in prize money.
“Anything that is attempted independently is not going to be sustainable and I don’t think it is going to be possible,” the CFU general secretary stated.
“The constitution of all the member organisations speaks to the processes and the steps and where permission and sanctioning and so on need to come from.”
The organisers say prize monies are expected to grow to US$5M after the first three years of MLF.
Last year, CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb announced that a task force is to be established to look at the development of a professional league in the Caribbean.
“A professional league in the region is something that CONCACAF and the CFU entities have said is worth pursuing and exploring,” Hughes added.
“So any entity that is desirous of partnering with CFU or CONCACAF in a developmental initiative, the best approach would then be to present such a case to the respective bodies.”
-
Exactly what I suspected...
-
With prize monies expected to be five million US dollars plus and then I am assuming 2nd and 3rd place may also get a piece then how can this be a bad thing.
Imagine what 5 million USD would do for any T&T team who, by the way has a really good chance of winning it as they hold the most titles.
I am sure they could run it similar to the way Europe runs the CL. Unfortunately, some teams may play 2 maybe 3 games a week but that the price of a big pay out, hard work.
I thing this could work it will also improve the Caribbean players, draw big sponsors and generate crowd and TV support.
Liat, hotels and Caribbean Airlines would reap benefits, so hopefully they will jump onboard as sponsors.
This is good, hard work goes a long way.
The top two teams in each country will participate and then the top 3 move on to the CCL.
There are so many benefits from this, they just have to plan it properly.
Players will also be seen and benefit from outside contracts and once teams start winning they would be able to build their own fields, pay players better and have a Caribbean Union with health benefits and so on.
MLS is doing it, so can we. From LA to NY is a longer trip than any Caribbean nation to another.
-
The problem is that they have no backing - it's like I say "I'm going to set up a London league with $5 million in prize money" and then set up a company to do that. Without the backing of the local FA, national FA, and sponsorship partners it's just the wind talking.
Lets look at what the facts are
1) no announced sponsors
2) no working agreements or even conversations with the CFU
3) no announced agreements with local FAs
4) their business plan relies on these
5) No costings in the proposals - i.e. how much each club would pay, how much their on-going operation would cost
6) No feasibility study from independent body
This proposal is nothing but wishful thinking until it has some solid backing and sponsors, then they need to meticulously plan out the commitments needed from league partners before they can think about pitching a transnational league like this.
-
With prize monies expected to be five million US dollars plus and then I am assuming 2nd and 3rd place may also get a piece then how can this be a bad thing.
Imagine what 5 million USD would do for any T&T team who, by the way has a really good chance of winning it as they hold the most titles.
I am sure they could run it similar to the way Europe runs the CL. Unfortunately, some teams may play 2 maybe 3 games a week but that the price of a big pay out, hard work.
I thing this could work it will also improve the Caribbean players, draw big sponsors and generate crowd and TV support.
Liat, hotels and Caribbean Airlines would reap benefits, so hopefully they will jump onboard as sponsors.
This is good, hard work goes a long way.
The top two teams in each country will participate and then the top 3 move on to the CCL.
There are so many benefits from this, they just have to plan it properly.
Players will also be seen and benefit from outside contracts and once teams start winning they would be able to build their own fields, pay players better and have a Caribbean Union with health benefits and so on.
MLS is doing it, so can we. From LA to NY is a longer trip than any Caribbean nation to another.
Flex, Caribbean people cant see beyond they eyebrow.
Good points.
-
The league is a good idea. But anybody outsider coming with such an enterprise must have plenty money and a sound business plan. And of course must consult with the regional football union. The cricket had the Indians with big money behind it. Plus they only had 6 teams and the tournament lasted 2 months. Football will have 20 teams and will run 8 to 9 months. Different logistics involved. Don't blame the Caribbean people for their lack of vision. There is an abundance being wasted away. We really lack resources to put our vision into fruition. This was tried before and lasted 2 years. The lack of money was always the issue.
-
This was tried before and lasted 2 years. The lack of money was always the issue.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_Professional_Football_League (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_Professional_Football_League)
It's hard to disagree, I just can't see it working.
-
This task force has been set up to examine the feasibility and sustainability of a future Caribbean Professional League. The inaugural meeting will be held in Los Angeles, California later this month.
CARIBBEAN PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE TASK FORCE
CHAIRMAN
Dr. Yves Jean-Bart
President, Haitian Football Federation
MEMBERS
Dr. The Right Honourable Keith Mitchell
Prime Minister of Grenada
The Right Honourable Edward Seaga, ON, PC
Former Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chairman of the Jamaican National Premier League
Mr. Damien Hughes
General Secretary, Caribbean Football Union
Mr. Simon Firth
Partner, Maples and Calder, Cayman Islands
Mr. Don Garber
Commissioner, Major League Soccer
Mr. David John Williams
Owner/President, W Connection Football Club, Trinidad and Tobago
Mr. Decio de Maria
President, Liga MX
Mr. Randy Harris
President Barbados Football Association
Mr. James Johnson
Senior Manager Member Associations, FIFA
Mr. Shaka Hislop
Football Commentator and Former Trinidad & Tobago National Team Captain
SPECIAL ADVISORS
The Premier League
Mr. Jefferson Slack
Senior Vice President, Global Business Development, IMG
Mr. Kieran Foley
Group Head Marketing, Digicel
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/1903992_598131703612812_1665316936_n.jpg)
-
David John Williams is an excellent choice.
Concacaf names T&T’s Williams to Pro League task force.
T&T Guardian Reports.
MIAMI—Trinidad and Tobago’s David John Williams, the owner and president of W Connection, which campaigns in the T&T Pro League has been named to a Task Force established by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) to study the viability of a professional football league in the Caribbean.
The Task Force also includes Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell and former Jamaica prime minister Edward Seaga have been named to a nine-member Task Force.
The Speaker of the Bermuda House of Assembly, Randolph Horton is also included on the task force that Concacaf yesterday said would be backed by advisers from the major leagues in England and the United States.
It said the task force would examine the feasibility of a Caribbean professional football league, as the Confederation deepens its commitment to the growth of the game across the region.
This will be the second effort to establish a professional league in the Caribbean. A previous attempt to institute a Caribbean league lasted from 1992-1994, when clubs from as far north as Jamaica and south as Guyana competed in the now defunct Caribbean Professional Football League.
“I am certain that there are immense untapped opportunities for football in the Caribbean,” said Concacaf President Jeffrey Webb.
“We need to evaluate thoroughly how best to convert potential into a viable structure that could create new futures for clubs, players, fans and the game as a whole.”
The task force, chaired by Horton, also includes leading figures from the two biggest leagues in Concacaf—Don Garber, Commissioner of Major League Soccer in the United States, and Decio de Maria, President of Liga MX in Mexico. It is scheduled to hold its first meeting in Miami on March 24.
“Our focus will be to analyse the feasibility of a sustainable business model—one that can serve as the cornerstone to build a league that provides a platform for Caribbean talent, as it develops equity and value in the long term,” said Garber.
Chief Executive of the English Premier League, Richard Scudamore, said the intention is to make available, the entire executive team available to offer assistance to the Caribbean in realising the potential for top-class professional football.
The task force is charged with analysing all the possible options for developing a sustainable league structure in the Caribbean, with the objective of improving playing standards and overall professionalism.
According to Concacaf, as some nations in the Caribbean possess established domestic leagues, the group will review current infrastructures and assess what competitive format would achieve the best outcomes for long-term success.
The members are: Dr. Keith Mitchell (Prime Minister of Grenada); Damien Hughes (General Secretary, Caribbean Football Union); Simon Firth (Partner, Maples and Calder, Cayman Islands); Don Garber (Commissioner, US Major League Soccer); . Edward Seaga (former Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chairman of Jamaica’s Premier League); David John Williams (Owner/President, W Connection Football Club, Trinidad and Tobago); Decio de Maria (President, Liga MX); Yves Jean-Bart (President, Haitian Football Federation) and Randy Harris (President, Barbados Football Federation).
Special advisors to the task force are: The English Premier League; Jefferson Slack (Senior vice-president, Global Business Development, IMG) and Kieran Foley (group head marketing, Digicel). ReThink Management and MCM Consulting Ltd. have been named as consultants to the group.
-
Agreed, lets hope that local contextual knowledge isn't ignored in this consultation. Still sceptical, but hoping something positive comes out of the discussions
-
So, these people really serious about this. Like I said previously, I hope they have dedicated financial backers......with deep pockets willing to go on for the long haul.
-
Mr. Don Garber
Commissioner, Major League Soccer
Intriguing!
-
Mr. Don Garber
Commissioner, Major League Soccer
Intriguing!
There goes Promotion and relegation. It will be the same closed model of the MLS.
-
we well bright we have two competitive leagues MLS and Mexico advising us. Probable they'll show us ways we can be better than them and take some of their players and sponsors
-
Williams, Shaka on CONCACAF team to launch Caribbean professional league
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)
DIRECTV W Connection chairman David John Williams and former 2006 World Cup player Shaka Hislop were today officially unveiled as members of a CONCACAF task force mandated to do a feasibility study on the potential of a Caribbean professional football league.
The committee is considered the final step before the possible formation of a full-fledged league, which could offer professional employment for over 200 players as well as referees and administrators.
Williams, whose club remains one of the local Pro League’s most successful outfits, is thought to be a key figure in the push towards the re-introduction of a Caribbean professional competition.
“I submitted a proposal about three years ago to the CFU (Caribbean Football Union) and they are taking it a step further now,” Williams told Wired868. “There isn’t much I can say right now other than they are looking very seriously at forming a Caribbean professional league after extensive discussion at the last (CONCACAF) summit…
“The CONCACAF and the CFU is committed to forming a Caribbean professional league.”
CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb, in a release, expressed excitement at the possibility of the competition.
“I am certain that there are immense untapped opportunities for football in the Caribbean,” said Webb. “We need to evaluate thoroughly how best to convert potential into a viable structure that could create new futures for clubs, players, fans and the game as a whole.”
Apart from Hislop and Williams, the task force includes: Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, ex-Jamaica Prime Minister and Jamaican National Premier League chairman Edward Seaga, Mexican league president Decio de Maria, US Major League Soccer (MLS) chairman Don Garber, FIFA official James Johnson, CFU general secretary Damien Hughes, Bermuda Speaker of the House Randolph Horton, Barbados FA president Randy Harris and Cayman Islands attorney Simon Firth.
“Our focus will be to analyze the feasibility of a sustainable business model,” Garber told CONCACAF, “one that can serve as the cornerstone to build a league that provides a platform for Caribbean talent, as it develops equity and value in the long term.”
Haitian Football Federation president Dr. Yves Jean-Bart, who famously accused Warner of failing to relay earthquake relief funds to Haiti, two years ago, will chair the task force while Digicel marketing head Kieran Foley, IMG senior vice president Jefferson Slack will serve as special advisors along with an England Premier League representative.
“The Premier League is honored to be one of the special advisers to this task force,” said England Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore. “We are making our entire executive team available to offer any help we can in realizing the potential for top-class professional football in the Caribbean.”
Williams said he was honoured and humbled by his appointment on the task force while Webb cooed about the perceived strength of the team and the chance to make a significant impact on the Caribbean game.
If successful, Webb would succeed where his Trinidadian predecessor, Jack Warner, failed almost two decades ago.
In 1992, Warner, the CONCACAF and CFU president, founded the Caribbean Professional Football League (CPFL) with Harold Taylor, then CFU general secretary, as the tournament organiser. However the league, which changed names and formats twice in four years, was beset by poor attendances and member clubs incurred heavy losses before it closed in 1995.
Trinidad and Tobago Hawks, Malta Carib Alcons and Trinity Professionals, all Trinidad and Tobago clubs, won the three respective editions of the competition.
“Analysing past attempts to develop such a project in the region will provide important information,” said de Maria, “as we seek to create an entity that serves the good of the game.”
Not all the regional stakeholders appear sold on the project.
In January, Jamaica football president Horace Burrell told the Jamaica Star newspaper that he doubted whether the region had the infrastructure for a professional tournament or if it could deal with the issue of travel and poor attendances at football matches on most islands.
“Frankly and honestly speaking there is no infrastructural development across the Caribbean to accommodate such a football competition in a structured way,” said Burrell, “so personally I don’t see this manifesting itself now.”
There is a potential rival for the Caribbean football market too in the form of Chris Anderson, the chairman and CEO of the Caribbean Football Trust Limited (CFTL) who, last year, vowed to launch a regional Major League Football (MLF) competition by September 2015.
The MLF would supposedly feature 20 teams competing for US$3 million in prize money and Anderson hinted that he could work in tandem with CONCACAF.
However, Williams is unconvinced by Anderson’s plans.
“Up to now, Chris Anderson hasn’t said who are the (20) teams he invited,” said Williams. “The most I know is that the CFU hasn’t been approached for the (MLF) to be sanctioned and that is probably the most important factor regarding his proposed league…
“What we are talking about is a proper structured league that will have the blessings of FIFA, CONCACAF and the CFU. And if you look at the people invited from the MLS, the Mexican Liga and the Premier League, you can see how serious it is.”
He disagreed with Burrell’s pronouncement that the region cannot sustain professional football at this time and pointed to the success of the Caribbean Premier League cricket competition, which supposedly generated over US$100 million in its debut season last year.
“A lot of people thought franchise cricket couldn’t work but it has,” said Williams. “I think there is infrastructure through the Caribbean (including cricket venues) that can be used and purpose-built venues that can be developed.
“The improvement of the standard of play that will come about and so long as the league is properly structured and promoted and there is television involved, there will be fans.”
No proposed date has been given for the Caribbean professional league while Williams said it would premature to speculate about its potential impact on the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League. He did insist that Connection would always be a part of the local top flight game regardless.
CONCACAF Caribbean Professional Football League task force:
Chairman: Dr Yves Jean-Bart (Haitian Football Federation president);
Members: David John Williams (W Connection/ Trinidad and Tobago), Shaka Hislop (ESPN/ Trinidad and Tobago), Keith Mitchell (Grenada Prime Minister), Edward Seaga (Jamaica National Premier League chairman), Decio de Maria (Mexico Liga president), Don Garber (US Major League Soccer chairman), James Johnson (FIFA/ Australia), Damien Hughes (CFU general secretary/ Anguilla), Randolph Horton (Bermuda Speaker of the House), Randy Harris (Barbados Football Association president) and Simon Firth (Maples and Calder/ Cayman Islands).
Special Advisors: England Premier League, Kieran Foley (Digicel), Jefferson Slack (IMG VP).
-
We will see
-
Yea definitely a pro team of sdvisors, but really cant' see where the money comes from. If they can get consistently a couple thousand to the games then that'll just about cover travel at TTD$30 a match, but we'll need major sponsors to cover the rest, and a serious merchandising and marketing strategy.
-
Yea definitely a pro team of sdvisors, but really cant' see where the money comes from. If they can get consistently a couple thousand to the games then that'll just about cover travel at TTD$30 a match, but we'll need major sponsors to cover the rest, and a serious merchandising and marketing strategy.
This is the only weakness that I can see. The league will need to be funded by private owners and global corporate bodies to make it work. TV money will be essential. This won't be for Caribbean to watch live, it will be for TV audiences world wide. MLS will not offer any solutions there as they will want to maximise their income. The EPL can advise because it will not weaken it's brand. Somebody like Richard Branson or Alan Sugar would have been useful.
-
Yea definitely a pro team of sdvisors, but really cant' see where the money comes from. If they can get consistently a couple thousand to the games then that'll just about cover travel at TTD$30 a match, but we'll need major sponsors to cover the rest, and a serious merchandising and marketing strategy.
This is the only weakness that I can see. The league will need to be funded by private owners and global corporate bodies to make it work. TV money will be essential. This won't be for Caribbean to watch live, it will be for TV audiences world wide. MLS will not offer any solutions there as they will want to maximise their income. The EPL can advise because it will not weaken it's brand. Somebody like Richard Branson or Alan Sugar would have been useful.
MLS might have an interest as a feeder league if they're planning on expanding the Caribbean Combine. Most likely they might target the Caribbean for shirt sales as we grow economically and a cheap talent pool for the MLS. In the long-run they might promote teams like Antigua Barracuda and others who were involved in the American pyramid, in order to capture some of the benefits/profit for themselves.
-
Ok, so leh meh ask this ... who not on that list allyuh feel would have something to bring to the table?
-
Ok, so leh meh ask this ... who not on that list allyuh feel would have something to bring to the table?
President of CONCACAF, Jeffrey Webb
General Secretary of CONCACAF Enrique Sanz
Representative from CONCACAF,
Representative from European Champions League,
Representative from Cuba (as one of the major nations, but they never play anyway),
Representative from Guyana/Suriname,
Representative from the French Antilles,
Tbh happyish about the current list, most of my suggestions are superfluous (except CONCACAF rep)
-
Ok, so leh meh ask this ... who not on that list allyuh feel would have something to bring to the table?
I feel that there needs to be someone who has access at the highest level to global brands. Not to sign up the deals, that will be left to a marketing/sponsorship company, but someone who knows what these brands like to invest in, the sums of money that would be possible and what they would want in return.
For example, British Airways may be keen to open up new routes in the Caribbean. Therefore, in exchange for new slots in, say, Haiti, they may sponsor a Haiti team say, US$1 million per year for 5 years and the stadium in Haiti could be named the British Airways Stadium.
But you need industry insiders to find these facts out and then build them into the proposal. This will take input at a government level and each participating country will need to give concessions to attract the sponsors.
Who, on that list, has any experience in this field?
-
Caribbean Inter-Club Football Competition…Slingerz and Boystown draw; Alpha defeat Buxton United
March 7, 2014
http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2014/03/07/caribbean-inter-club-football-competition-slingerz-and-boystown-draw-alpha-defeat-buxton-united/
Two action packed encounters heralded the opening night when the curtains went up on the Caribbean Inter-Club football competition at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Wednesday evening last. Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams continued his good showing for his new club, Slingerz with a 19th minute strike to put Jamaican club team, Boystown, on the back foot. The goal held up for most of the match until Peter Keyes brought the situation back to equilibrium in the 90th minute as the game ended 1-1.
One match earlier, Edison Gomes slammed in a double in the 36th and 56th minute to seal the deal for Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United against Buxton United. The latter team played valiantly but was simply outclassed by a unified force in Alpha who played a superior brand of football.
The action moves over to the East Coast this evening when Buxton would enjoy home advantage to the Jamaica team, Boystown at their Community Centre Ground in the feature attraction of a double header. The curtain raiser will feature Slingerz and Alpha United in an eagerly awaited grudge match. The final set of matches will be played on Sunday March 9, when Slingerz clash with Buxton United from 18:00hrs followed by a Celebrity game at 20:30hrs. The final match for that evening pits the skill of Alpha United against Boystown FC. These matches will be played at the GFC Ground.
Meanwhile, the two Jamaican reggae stars, Duane Stephenson and Ginja were at the touchline rendering full support for their countrymen. Later on, they took centre stage with the microphone, dishing out some of their popular renditions. Whichever way the competition goes for Alpha, they will feel gratified to have had worthwhile match practice as they are now preparing for the all important CFU Club Championship in Jamaica. They are grouped with Habourview and T&T’s Defence Force.
-
Ok, so leh meh ask this ... who not on that list allyuh feel would have something to bring to the table?
President of CONCACAF, Jeffrey Webb
General Secretary of CONCACAF Enrique Sanz
Representative from CONCACAF,
Representative from European Champions League,
Representative from Cuba (as one of the major nations, but they never play anyway),
Representative from Guyana/Suriname,
Representative from the French Antilles,
Tbh happyish about the current list, most of my suggestions are superfluous (except CONCACAF rep)
There's something about the composition of those named that strikes me as having achieved an uncomfortable imbalance. Still thinking about it.
No need for Jeffrey Webb to be on it ... it's a task force reporting back to CONCACAF, and he's adequately represented. For this reason, I also like the "distance" of not having Sanz at this primary stage. I think his contributions by way of review would/could be valuable at a secondary tier of inquiry.
Alternatively, I think the contribution of participant actors from Colombia, Venezuela or even Ecuador should be considered at some stage (particularly Colombia's Dimayor). There are some synergies there to be explored. Solicit same in feedback from Panama and Costa Rica. Then bring in ppl who can interpret that information objectively.
Presumably, a broad range of regional opinions will be solicited ... in this respect, there should be a commitment to getting into the weeds.
-
You might be right about the other SA countries, but I think CONCACAF representatives are important because the Caribbean is so important - our block bosses the elections due to sheer numbers so anything that happens here has an impact over there.
-
Just read in the cricket section where the TT Red Steel part ways with their sponsor. The team lost 1.5 mil. last year and the sponsors did not like that. So although cricket and football may be like orange and banana, when it comes to the business side of the sport, business is business. There are no sentimentalities!!!
-
A League of our own
By Christophe Brathwaite (Express).
Talk has become action or so we hope. David John Williams, owner of Trinidad and Tobago Pro League club W Connection, and former 2006 World Cup player and ESPN football analyst Shaka Hislop are the chosen members on a CONCACAF task force designed to begin a feasibility study on the potential of a Caribbean professional football league.
The sceptics have already begun showing their red cards at the initiative shouting that this has been tried before and has failed to score. They believe that the parsimonious desires of each Caribbean state to hold on to their football patrimony; the poor attendance at games; and the failure of member clubs to attract funding from corporate coffers to pay for players’ salaries, coaches and overall administration is the reason behind the previous attempt at establishing a league falling flat.
One such sceptic is Jamaican Football president Horace Burrell. The Jamaican Star newspaper reported his circumvallation on the grounds that it was his opinion that the Caribbean lacked the infrastructure across the board to sustain such a league at this time.
President Burrell’s view then begs the question when is the right time? Given that the Caribbean has over 25 FIFA member nations, over 100 stadia and enough economic wealth to sustain such an initiative thrice over. In addition, FIFA and the English Premiership league have promised that they would lend their know-how to develop the structured framework. Given the aforementioned why can we not try again?
A structured framework is exactly what a Caribbean Professional Football League (CPFL) needs to survive. In this regard the proper survival of the CPFL can be divided into two components to render success; issues that are essential and those that are fundamental.
The essential category can be tabled as the foundation of the CPFL and has nothing to do with infrastructure, monies and full stadiums as Burrell and others would have us believe, rather it is the preparation of the CPFL as a premier package worthy of commercialisation. Any CPFL initiative will need the right mix of sport attorneys, marketing gurus, public relations advisers and sport and non-technocrats to fulfil a successful mandate--to achieve a unified and sustainable Caribbean Professional Football League.
The first order of business should be effective communication to each member team that they cannot operate independently but must cooperate with one another in order to sell the entire package to the public. The hierarchy of the league must also walk the talk. Accordingly, they must give incentives geared toward team collaboration.
According to Sharp, Regis and Grimes in their presentation on the ‘Economics of Professional Sports’ one such incentive lies in the shared disbursement of broadcasting rights revenue. They noted that the more successful leagues were the ones who sold their national TV and radio broadcast rights to all the games played by their members as “packaged deals” to the highest bidder and then divided the revenue amongst their members. This simple yet effective measure will address some of the financial worry woes of the less popular teams.
The second essential component should be the willingness of all regional governments to subsidise the league. The high level of participation and expenditure in football in the Caribbean should be a signal to regional governments that it is time to step up and get into the game. Governments should be made aware of the fact that 18 billion and 50 billion euros are spent globally on sponsorship and TV rights respectively.
Furthermore, there is also the positive externality argument. According to a paper entitled “Government Subsidies for Team Sports in Australia” written by John Wilson and Richard Promfret, the argument had been made that the principal economic argument for subsidising an industry is that in the presence of positive externalities the market will under-supply a good or service.
The positive externalities they speak of range from such things as the public health aspect of sport to reductions in poverty and crime as a result of participating in sport and the various jobs created to facilitate the establishment of a league. In our case, an additional positive externality may even extend as far as indoctrinating Caribbean solidarity.
The fundamental component of the package is the players. They are the ones who put the icing on the package and are the economic and social drivers behind the demand for the package. Accordingly, their welfare and interests must be first and foremost on the agenda. The task force must seek out sport attorneys who will be charged with the duty to protect the welfare and interest of the player.
The sport attorney has a pivotal role in erasing the jumbie that looms over the Caribbean football player and sees him as a non-professional unthinking tool. In addition to protecting the interests of the player, the right sport attorney would be an asset to the task force in terms of advising on event management contracts, players and coaches’ contracts, transfers from in and out of the CPFL to other international Leagues, advice on anti-doping, anti-trust and anti-corruption regulations and a host of other regulatory needs which will provide the necessary ingredients for a sustainable CPFL.
What is both essential and fundamental to the success of the CPFL is the establishment of a regulatory framework through an independent authority designed with numerous powers to investigate all irregularities and be to the CPFL the main inspector and guarantor of accountability and transparency.
The task force must consider how to substantiate the role of this authority. One way would be to lobby every Caribbean member government to write into their legislative and public policy that they recognise this body as the supreme authoritative body to control the affairs of the league in terms of sanctions and investigative powers. From the global perspective, such recognition will give the authority and vicariously the CPFL, the efficacy and international recognition it needs to open the doorway to international assistance both financially and in the form of professional services.
In closing, as a talented and industrious people, we should not allow past failures to inhibit us from moving forward. Notwithstanding that there are many more essentials and fundamentals which need to be explored before the first whistle is blown and given that more and more the global economy will be relying on people rather than refined resources, the time is now to pursue and make the CPFL a Caribbean agenda. It is time for a League of our own. Christophe Brathwaite is an attorney-at-law who specialises in corporate, commercial, sport and entertainment law.
-
My biggest worry (ignoring the feasibility for now) is about the national leagues - where are the pool of players for the national teams going to come from with only a very select few clubs from each nation (hell one club for several islands for the Windies)? You can bet the CPL won't have a type of promotion or relegation, so what's left for the home clubs when the CPL captures the domestic attendance market?
-
In fulfilling FIFA's mandate to promote and develop sport in the region. Could not funds be infused into this initiative ? This way the region could built capacity thus benefitting all the islands? Oops the minnows as them 'big ' countries like to refer to us .
-
In fulfilling FIFA's mandate to promote and develop sport in the region. Could not funds be infused into this initiative ? This way the region could built capacity thus benefitting all the islands? Oops the minnows as them 'big ' countries like to refer to us .
Minnows are fun to look at for a short period when they do something interesting, then they get bored and move on. We can't rely on FIFA funds, especially now we don't have an official to bribe...
-
CONCACAF PRESIDENT VISITS T&T
TTFA Facebook Page
FIFA Vice President and President of CONCACAF Jeffrey Webb visited Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday en route to French Guiana.
Webb’s visit lasted for five hours during which time he met with President of the Republic, His Excellency Anthony Carmona, Government Ministers and President of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association Raymond Tim Kee.
Webb used the opportunity to discuss the way forward for football in this country and to also relay what he felt was a fair level of progress made by the TTFA over the past year and some months considering some of the circumstances under which the Association has been forced to operate.
Also involved in the meetings were FIFA Development Officer Howard McIntosh and TTFA General Secretary Sheldon Phillips. Additional details and comments on President Webb’s visit to T&T will be released shortly.
-
A Sit Down with FIFA Development Officer Howard McIntosh
https://www.youtube.com/v/0vxoNN6_qqI
-
Howard McIntosh did go to Howard. I think he played also under Keith Tucker?
-
W Connection President & CEO David John-Williams to speak at 2014 SoccerEx Americas Forum
W Connection Press Release.
Point Lisas Industrial Estate, Friday 3rd October 2014. President and CEO of DIRECTV W Connection FC Mr. David John-Williams has been invited to speak at the SoccerEx Americas Forum, a two day Football Conference which takes place from October 21st through 22nd in Barbados.
Mr. John-Williams, who was recently appointed to CONCACAF’s Caribbean Professional League Task Force will feature on the "Expanding Into Footballing History" session alongside fellow task force member MLS Commissioner Don Garber, former Chairman of Arsenal FC & the English FA David Dein, and panel Moderator Ben Grossman – Principle, Selhurst Media Ventures as they discuss the rapid expansion of the MLS and the proposed Caribbean Premier League which has been high on the industry agenda.
Of his invitation to feature at the forum, John-Williams says that he is honored to be considered alongside his Task Force colleagues and such an esteemed panel and he looks forward to making a contribution that can further push the Caribbean up the ladder of World Football.
The two day forum will feature some of the football industry's most respected professionals and leaders including FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter and CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb and takes place at The Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC) in Barbados. Topics of discussion will include “Changing Soccer’s Status Quo”, “The Home of Women’s Football”, and “Sport Tourism: The New Shop Window” to name a few. SoccerEx is a leading organization in the world of Football that has hosted over thirty industry events across five Continents since 1995. This year’s America’s forum was done in partnership with Barbados Tourism Marketing Incorporated with an aim to promote football growth and development across the CONCACAF regions.
-
The proposed Football team: "Caribbean Hurricanes"
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2005, 10:03:27 AM »
Quote
Modify
Remove
Once more I raise the question as to the merits of having a strong formidable REGIONAL Caribbean football team.
Realistically, would any of our national football team reach the level to compete consistently with the likes of Brazil, England, France, Germany, Italy Argentina OR Spain?
Let's carefully examine the development and growth of soccer in our region with an objective mind set. With the exception of Jamacia at a WCQ appearance, what have the other islands been able to accomplish? As individidual islands do we have the depth and players resources to keep going out on our own with the hope that one day we'll be consistently be on the big stage?
Could we not develop and train a strong regional contingent to compete internationally at a level that would be successful?
What are the merits and down side to a venture as proposed? Given the players we have in the region today what would the make up of a regional team look like? I am proposing we call the team the "CARIBBEAN HURRICANES"
Modify message
« Last Edit: July 09, 2005, 10:21:34 AM by AlbertaTrini »
[/quote]
Once more I raise the question of the viability of any one team from the Caribbean ever having a major impact when it comes to WC never mind just qualifying but getting through the preliminaries. Putting aside national pride- who would not like to see their nation on the WC stage? However is the reality one that will ever be a consistent factor? Or will the Caribbean nations continually be pouring huge amounts of funds into a bottomless pit hoping for a solid footing?
What advantages could realized if the regional bodies pooled their resources- financial and players to build on a team for WC qualifiers?
Reality check from the Jamaica Gleaner
Burrell says it takes more than a miracle to qualify for World Cup
Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) boss, Captain Horace Burrell, has warned the nation not to expect miracles when it comes to consistently qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, as odds are consistently stacked against the team based on the resources invested in the programme.
Since the historical appearance of the team at the 1998 World Cup in France, Jamaica's Reggae Boyz have struggled to make any significant impact on subsequent qualification campaigns.
The team has managed to make the final round in only two of the four subsequent qualifiers and even in the 2002 and 2014 versions, when the Boyz did find themselves numbered among the region's final six, the team finished in second to last and last spot, in respective campaigns.
"People have been saying we are our worst enemies, because we should not have qualified for the World Cup in 1998. I say 'no', I cannot agree with that," Burrell said.
"World Cup qualification is a competitive environment. No country has the right to continue to qualify for the World Cup, I think we are doing the best that we can."
The JFF boss pointed to the levels of investment made by the teams that have had the most success in recent times - Mexico , the United States and to a lesser extent Costa Rica and Panama.
Burrell stressed that it was increasingly difficult to compete with those teams, which have not only developed better infrastructure, but competed in friendly internationals, a key part of preparing teams for competition on their own terms.
financial backing
"It is not easy, we are playing against countries whose economies are way ahead of ours. Competing against Mexico, for instance ... when you look at their football budget it is almost as huge as the national budget of Jamaica, believe it or not.
"I was speaking with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) president and he said to me that money in terms of their football development is no issue; they have funds to do anything they want to do as it relates to football," he related.
"They can travel to play any day of the week anywhere to play anyone they want, that is the size of their budget. In Mexico it is similar, in Costa the same. They are just way ahead."
Figures released by the USSF indicated expenses related to the country's national soccer teams for 2014 stood at US$50,823,920 (J$5,704,985,020).
Last year, the JFF received somewhere in the region of $30,000,000 from the Sports Development Foundation.
-
ABT, this would never happen. If we had a "West Indies" or Caribbean team, the 23 (I think) CFU members of FIFA would be reduced to 1. So, CFU would have no power in CONCACAF.
Also, FIFA would only financially support one association, so the US$250k would be divided between all 23 nations. No association would vote for that!
Finally, the number of WC places would be drastically reduced as there would only be 13 teams competing.
(Please allow for errors in the exact numbers!!)
-
Not happening, unless there is a political union. That definitely not happening either, so an All Caribbean team for WC is not happening. Maybe for exhibition or Copa America?
-
ABT, this would never happen. If we had a "West Indies" or Caribbean team, the 23 (I think) CFU members of FIFA would be reduced to 1. So, CFU would have no power in CONCACAF.
Also, FIFA would only financially support one association, so the US$250k would be divided between all 23 nations. No association would vote for that!
Finally, the number of WC places would be drastically reduced as there would only be 13 teams competing.
(Please allow for errors in the exact numbers!!)
Not good enough reasons in my opinion from creating a formidable team to challenge the so call " super powers" of football - if we cyar see different then we are in a no win system designed to benefit the " haves" in this world. Not only that it smacks of divide and conqueror. Keep them apart so they doh get powerful in unity.
This WC thing starting to feel like the Winter Olympics what chance we have of wining a gold medal in ice hockey or downhill skiing?
-
ABT, this would never happen. If we had a "West Indies" or Caribbean team, the 23 (I think) CFU members of FIFA would be reduced to 1. So, CFU would have no power in CONCACAF.
Also, FIFA would only financially support one association, so the US$250k would be divided between all 23 nations. No association would vote for that!
Finally, the number of WC places would be drastically reduced as there would only be 13 teams competing.
(Please allow for errors in the exact numbers!!)
Not good enough reasons in my opinion from creating a formidable team to challenge the so call " super powers" of football - if we cyar see different then we are in a no win system designed to benefit the " haves" in this world. Not only that it smacks of divide and conqueror. Keep them apart so they doh get powerful in unity.
This WC thing starting to feel like the Winter Olympics what chance we have of wining a gold medal in ice hockey or downhill skiing?
Imagine if WI cricket didn't exist? How would T&T, Jamaica, Guyana do on their own? Maybe, every now and then, a golden team would emerge a win a few tests. That's where Caribbean football is right now. A Caribbean team would, in my opinion, fare much better than individual nations. But the facts I mentioned before will prevent it. Every country has it's president who wants first class travel to CONCACAF & FIFA events. By merging the nations, only one or two fellas will get that treatment. Benefiting football comes second if you're the F.A. president in Turks & Caicos or St Kitts & Nevis.
-
ABT, this would never happen. If we had a "West Indies" or Caribbean team, the 23 (I think) CFU members of FIFA would be reduced to 1. So, CFU would have no power in CONCACAF.
Also, FIFA would only financially support one association, so the US$250k would be divided between all 23 nations. No association would vote for that!
Finally, the number of WC places would be drastically reduced as there would only be 13 teams competing.
(Please allow for errors in the exact numbers!!)
Not good enough reasons in my opinion from creating a formidable team to challenge the so call " super powers" of football - if we cyar see different then we are in a no win system designed to benefit the " haves" in this world. Not only that it smacks of divide and conqueror. Keep them apart so they doh get powerful in unity.
This WC thing starting to feel like the Winter Olympics what chance we have of wining a gold medal in ice hockey or downhill skiing?
Imagine if WI cricket didn't exist? How would T&T, Jamaica, Guyana do on their own? Maybe, every now and then, a golden team would emerge a win a few tests. That's where Caribbean football is right now. A Caribbean team would, in my opinion, fare much better than individual nations. But the facts I mentioned before will prevent it. Every country has it's president who wants first class travel to CONCACAF & FIFA events. By merging the nations, only one or two fellas will get that treatment. Benefiting football comes second if you're the F.A. president in Turks & Caicos or St Kitts & Nevis.
Actually FS I believe you hit the nail on the head in your initial response. The reduction in funding that would be the result of such a move. Can you imagine the effect that would have on player development. Our own TTFA is already beyond broke. No money to run programs, pay coaches, and corporate entities are not funding football.
ABT you mention divide and conquer, but it is because we have 23, or whatever the actual number, associations that we have any meaningful say in what goes on in CONCACAF. And voting as a block has allowed us to have a significant influence even at the FIFA level. And while we might initially end up with a better team that team will likely have to fight for one of a reduced number of qualifying spots for the region. And there's no guarantees that a Caribbean team is suddenly going to be better than US, Mexico and CR.
-
A good friend of mine is now the TD of Virgin Islands football. The described the amount of bachannal between St. Thomas(Thomians) and St. Croix(Cruzians). Some Thomians and Cruzians don't agree on lots of things. It is hard to get Cruzians to come to St.Thomas to practice. So on many occasions he may get guys from St. croix a day or two before the game. Think about 35 mini states you have to satisfy. Unless there is political union, that eh happening.
-
Yuh eh ho satisfy all them states! Every island carry on with their teams - you creat regional pools according to proximity- see earlier posting. Teams play in round robin and then pool play offs to determine champion. From these you select best players to invite for camp along with best overseas players per country- talk about raising the level of play and completion!
Too many are seeing the obstacles rather than the possibilities of a unified Caribbean league and team and for that shortsightedness our world wider progress will continue to falter and grow at a snail's pace in my opinion.
-
Caribbean League promoters look at May start.
T&T Express Reports.
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) will benefit from a $20million kit sponsorship deal borne out of a partnership that will also promote the Caribbean League Football (CLF).
“All our national teams will be covered under this initiative, all our Pro League teams, our Women’s League, our referees, the TTFA and the Secondary Schools. Everyone will be under the same brand and soon more details will be announced about the sponsorship. but needless to say, the TTFA is very pleased with this deal,” said current TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee.
The three-month league is tentatively set to start at the end of May next year and expected to include yet-to-be named marquee players, foreign players hailing from Central America, South America and Europe and local domestic footballers. The initial investment in the private venture is for two to three years.
Organisers, including Canadian director of the CLF AJ Deber said that negotiations and talks are currently underway with the marquee players as they finalise arrangements for the League.
The league, which will feature doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday and a Caravan concept on Wednesday (moving around to different Caribbean countries), will be preceded by a three-month combine and trial period with players trying out for spots and to facilitate a USA-type draft observed in leagues like the NBA in the build-up to the start of the League.
There will be no franchises, said former T&T footballer and chairman and CEO of the CFL, Chris Anderson Joyeau.
Former director at Brazilian football club Santos, Andre Zonata, said the organisers will also place emphasis on “creating a sustainable youth development programme.”
Joyeau added that in the initial year, Trinidad and Tobago will be the main hub of the league but there are negotiations underway to lease two Dash 8 aircraft to facilitate the movement of at least four teams and accompanying technical officials and media all at one time.
He added that the organisers will be looking at avenues like merchandising, intellectual property and tv broadcast rights to generate revenue for investors.
“My confidence is based in the history of very talented players that have hailed from the Caribbean.....I am also an accountant and the numbers have been crunched and we know what we have to do to be in the black. We have done our due diligence financially and are ready to invest in a Caribbean league so that our players will no longer have to ply their trade in foreign countries. They will be able to work now for good wages here at home,” Joyeau explained.
-
Big backing - they must be expecting a large return. I hole the figures add up :)
-
I have been looking all over to see how this proposed league impacts the current proleague. Anyone has any insight?
-
Partial article from the Nation newspaper in Barbados, dated April 8, 2017.
http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/95444/islands-cup-football-fillip
-
Plans are being finalize at the moment to get it off the ground but the outline is a different one.
-
Carmona wants junior C'bean football league.
By Kim Boodram (Express).
PRESIDENT Anthony Carmona yesterday pitched his hopes for the development of national and regional football to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, during the latter's courtesy call on the Office of the President.
Infantino, who first visited Trinidad and Tobago while campaigning, was yesterday praised by Carmona for taking a holistic and transparent approach and for demonstrating that academia and sport can go hand in hand—given that Infantino is a qualified attorney.
Carmona held a short audience with Infantino, during which he expressed a wish to see the game develop not just nationally but also regionally. Carmona said he would like to see the development of a junior Caribbean football league, which Infantino said he could look into.
Infantino said he had come in at a difficult time for FIFA but noted that it's a “different FIFA”, as well as a different CONCACAF. He said there are many with a passion for football and that maybe some of his predecessors had lost sight of the vision.
Carmona also appealed to Infantino to use his position to bring top-class international football to local and regional arenas by convincing the top European teams to play in the Caribbean in the off-season.
Infantino noted the suggestion and said there definitely needed to be the breaking down of borders that had been built-up.
Also present yesterday was Sports Minister Darryl Smith and T&T senior coach Dennis Lawrence, as well as pupils from the football teams of several secondary schools.
In response to a question from one student as to FIFA's decision to increase the number of World Cup teams from 32 to 48, which starts with the 2026 tournament, Infantino again stated that the move will boost football in smaller countries and said that for countries like T&T, it increases the chance of qualifying for the tournament.
-
Why we need a next competition. The CFU have U20, U17, U15 competitions. Run these properly. Come out and support. Show the games on TV.
-
Concacaf to launch a Caribbean Professional League Working Group
Concacaf.com
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) has today announced the formation and membership of a Caribbean Professional League Working Group, with the support of world football’s governing body, FIFA.
The new group will be a subgroup of the Concacaf Competitions Committee and will carry out a comprehensive study of Caribbean professional club football. It will include the Chairman of the Concacaf Competitions Committee, the CFU President, experts with experience in football and other sectors from across the Caribbean and a FIFA representative.
The terms of reference for the Working Group have been approved by the Concacaf Council and its work will begin when the current public health situation allows. The membership of the group comprises:
- Concacaf Competitions Committee Chairman, Yon de Luisa (Chairman)
- Concacaf Vice-president & Caribbean Football Union President, Randolph Harris (Deputy Chairman)
- Representative of Trinidad and Tobago, Brent Sancho (Member)
- Representative of Jamaica, Christopher Samuda (Member)
- Representative of Haiti, Patrick Massenat (Member)
- Representative of the Dominican Republic, Manuel Estrella (Member)
- Representative of Curaçao, Valdemar Florentino Marcha (Member)
- FIFA representative
Administrative support for the group will be provided by the Confederation’s Competitions and Development Departments, and its Jamaica office.
"The feasibility of a Caribbean professional league has previously been explored by regional stakeholders. However, for a combination of reasons, those attempts did not get beyond the point of an early draft, with little substance and no progress made on the matter. ", said Concacaf President Victor Montagliani.
"The time is right for the Caribbean and Concacaf, with the support of FIFA, to lead the way to develop a comprehensive study which has the sole aim of the development of football in the Caribbean and the region as a whole.
"This is not about a league in isolation but also about the professionalization of football and its players, coaches and administrators in the region. This newly created group, with strong representation from the Caribbean, will take a football first approach and will be given sufficient time to consider a range of potential formats and structures.
"The insights of experts from the Concacaf Competitions Committee, the CFU, Concacaf Member Associations and local leagues and clubs will be crucial as the group diligently studies future options for Caribbean professional football.”
-
There yuh go Sanch. Aptly rewarded for your loyalty.
-
There yuh go Sanch. Aptly rewarded for your loyalty.
Yuh saying no wool over your eyes? :devil:
-
There yuh go Sanch. Aptly rewarded for your loyalty.
Yuh saying no wool over your eyes? :devil:
Question seeker : Doesn't that also mean he is a representative of the TTFA i.e. in his case, the NC ?
-
There yuh go Sanch. Aptly rewarded for your loyalty.
Yuh saying no wool over your eyes? :devil:
Question seeker : Doesn't that also mean he is a representative of the TTFA i.e. in his case, the NC ?
In this capacity he does not represent the TTFA/the NC. Also, my understanding is that he isn't there in formal represention of the Pro League.
Ostensibly, he has been appointed based on his experience of running a club in the regional market and his experience of the MoS perspective
-
Throwing good money after bad. How many times we going to waste money on this idea? It's just a non-starter - most of the islands can't get 100 people to domestic games, and football isn't well suited to the cricket model.
-
Throwing good money after bad. How many times we going to waste money on this idea? It's just a non-starter - most of the islands can't get 100 people to domestic games, and football isn't well suited to the cricket model.
Good try in an attempt to make sense out of non-sense. What the Concacaf is attempting to do is to make the CFU one entity and thus minimize the Caribbean teams. Both club and national. They don't like playing the minors. They feel it is wasting their time, and they afraid that the big money super powers from the zone may get upset, and not make it to FIFA big dance(the shock heard all over the world in Corva, not Couva).
-
Just look at the difference between the names listed above and compare that to the list the previous time this idea was floated.
https://www.concacaf.com/article/concacaf-appoints-members-of-caribbean-professional-league-task-force
The only person on that 2020 list that I believe has any credibility in running a football league is the guy from Dominican Republic, they have done some decent stuff with the league in recent years, but that is due in large part to a cash influx, not much else. The Jamaican guy isn't even involved with football there as far as I know, just the Olympic committee. If you want a good example of why this will fail though, just look at Concacaf's Caribbean Shield competition (Champions League for non-professional clubs)...their promotion was pisspoor (empty stadiums), games were not broadcast PPV or free (and I know one broadcaster who offered), and Concacaf's reporting on their website included wrong scores, players reported scoring for wrong team, etc.
I spoke to someone who was involved in that 2014 process about a year ago and he claimed they were ready to go with plans at the time, it was just Concacaf and CFU's poor organization at the time that stopped it.
The most important difference between the cricket league and a prospective football league is that cricket is only played in English speaking islands, and travel between those is somewhat straightforward. I remember when Antigua were trying to play a qualifier in Martinique, they claimed the best way to do it was to fly through Miami (which brings up a visa issue), rather than even fly to Dominica and get the boat or something. They'd probably have to do a Leeward zone, Windward zone, and maybe a different zone for the likes of Hispaniola, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.
-
when Antigua were trying to play a qualifier in Martinique, they claimed the best way to do it was to fly through Miami (which brings up a visa issue), rather than even fly to Dominica and get the boat or something.
Breds, is this scenario wonderful or not ? In or order to go south, you must go north-west and then go south.
-
when Antigua were trying to play a qualifier in Martinique, they claimed the best way to do it was to fly through Miami (which brings up a visa issue), rather than even fly to Dominica and get the boat or something.
Breds, is this scenario wonderful or not ? In or order to go south, you must go north-west and then go south.
It may well have been a useful metaphor for football in the Caribbean if they weren't so pig-headed, but sadly pretty much everyone I've ever dealt with at Antigua's FA is entirely useless.
-
Sancho, Shabazz welcome Concacaf plans for a Caribbean Pro League
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)
The first step to set up a Caribbean Professional Football League has been made and already, it has become a sweet sound in some ears.
Concacaf on Wednesday announced the formation of a Caribbean Professional League working group, with the support of world football’s governing body, FIFA. When the current public health situation allows, the group will discuss its feasibility.
Selected among the group is Central FC owner and acting chairman of the TT Pro League, Trinidadian Brent Sancho. Both he and fellow T&T club owner Jamaal Shabazz see having its own professional league as a great step for Caribbean football.
The group will carry out a comprehensive study of Caribbean professional club football. Its chairman is also the chair of the Concacaf Competitions Committee, Yon de Luisa and its vice-chairman is Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president Randolph Harris.
The members will be Sancho (T&T), Christopher Samuda (Jamaica), Patrick Massenat (Haiti), Manuel Estrella (Dominican Republic), Valdemar Florentino Marcha (Curaçao) and a FIFA representative. With two previous incarnations of a Caribbean league having failed, no one sees it as an easy task to revitalise the Caribbean club game.
“It will have its challenges,” Sancho said, adding that the picture will become clearer once the stakeholders meet.
“The most important thing is that they have put together a task force that is mandated to bring this to fruition,” he added.
“The feasibility of a Caribbean professional league has previously been explored by regional stakeholders. However, for a combination of reasons, those attempts did not get beyond the point of an early draft, with little substance and no progress made on the matter,” Concacaf president Victor Montagliani said, adding: “The time is right for the Caribbean and Concacaf, with the support of FIFA, to lead the way to develop a comprehensive study which has the sole aim of the development of football in the Caribbean and the region as a whole.”
Shabazz is all for a Caribbean pro league. The former national men’s and women’s head coach believes it can work this time, once given the full support of Concacaf and FIFA.
“The Caribbean needs a league to take care of his own. The full support of Concacaf could be a big difference this time. Before it mainly had only the support of people in CFU,” he stated.
Shabazz has shown a long love for the Caribbean game, having coached the T&T, Guyana and St Lucia national men’s teams and having employed no fewer than 70 players from 10 Caribbean countries, including 29 from Guyana and 16 from St Lucia at his Morvant Caledonia United club over the years, along with players from Argentina, Ghana, Botswana, Panama and Brazil.
Among those Caribbean players were Guyanese internationals Charles Pollard, Howard Lowe, Sheldon Holder, Trayon Bobb and Walter Moore; St Lucians Tev and Otev Lawrence, Sheldon Emmanuel and Lester Joseph; St Vincent & the Grenadines’ Kendall Velox, Dwayne Sandy and Cornelius Stewart; Grenadians Kithson Bain and Shemel Louison; Jamaican Kevin Graham; Odell Flemming of St Kitts/Nevis and Antiguan Kareem Knight.
“I was always the Caribbean man,” Shabazz boasted. “The life of Caledonia shows that we always feel people of the region should get together.”
With less T&T players in US Major League Soccer (MLS) and Europe, Shabazz thinks the establishment of Caribbean professional football would fill a huge void.
“The better players from the country can play in the Caribbean league and the best of the best can go out to Europe and other overseas leagues,” he said. “And those who can’t make the Caribbean league can play in the local leagues. It’s a dynamic step to create employment and create an industry for football in the Caribbean,” he said.
-
They choose the wrong candidates from Trinidad to be part of this planning group-
Where is Shaka?
-
Shaka isn't a FIFA yes-man
-
They choose the wrong candidates from Trinidad to be part of this planning group-
Where is Shaka?
What are your reasons for saying that Brent Sancho is a wrong TT candidate?
-
Not really sure where this fits best, but would recommend listening to this podcast -- there is a focus on St Vincent but it details football across the region and touches on the Caribbean League that existed in the 90s.
https://anchor.fm/oronde-ash9?fbclid=IwAR1kAB2Q_rhCZNWc4uMhNijr00d1G8930QUfnVQGuDpaCkhrS3lgoMT9s1A
-
As Caribbean nations we need to develop a sense of passion, pride, and self esteem about our perchance for football. We have the talent, we have the facilities and we have the knowledge. So why do we always have to rely on foreign coaches, and techniques to elevate our level and to bring a sense of salvation to our game?
I say we spend more time elevating the status, training and the economics for our players. We should look at forming a Caribbean Professional Football League (C.P.F.L.) Let's develop some regional rivalry and expand the skill base in our respective nations within the region.
-
As Caribbean nations we need to develop a sense of passion, pride, and self esteem about our perchance for football. We have the talent, we have the facilities and we have the knowledge. So why do we always have to rely on foreign coaches, and techniques to elevate our level and to bring a sense of salvation to our game?
I say we spend more time elevating the status, training and the economics for our players. We should look at forming a Caribbean Professional Football League (C.P.F.L.) Let's develop some regional rivalry and expand the skill base in our respective nations within the region.
So here we are today 2023 and now we talking CARIBBEAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE and prior to this 19912-1995 and we are still at a cross roads in regards to our football development as a region.
-
A great idea in my opinion. Belize and Nicaragua's clubs have easier paths to the CCL than any Caribbean nations despite countries like Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti, Cuba, and even Guadeloupe and Martinique are far more successful. The lack of truly professional clubs in the caribbean is probably why we are being treated like outsiders who are fighting for one or two spots at the CCL. Most Caribbean nations are too small to support their own full professional leagues without government money and the larger ones with a large enough population like Haiti, Cuba, and Jamaica are also the poorest ones. So, a Caribbean league with a number of elite teams is really the way to go if we want to develop strong teams in the caribbean.
-
A great idea in my opinion. Belize and Nicaragua's clubs have easier paths to the CCL than any Caribbean nations despite countries like Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti, Cuba, and even Guadeloupe and Martinique are far more successful. The lack of truly professional clubs in the caribbean is probably why we are being treated like outsiders who are fighting for one or two spots at the CCL. Most Caribbean nations are too small to support their own full professional leagues without government money and the larger ones with a large enough population like Haiti, Cuba, and Jamaica are also the poorest ones. So, a Caribbean league with a number of elite teams is really the way to go if we want to develop strong teams in the caribbean.
There's something to your larger point. However, it should be noted that there is a world of difference between Belizean clubs and their Nicaraguan counterparts. A club like Real Esteli shouldn't be held captive to its location and its definitely significantly ahead of any entity within Belize.
The problem is also not merely one of scale, but also of a lack of imagination propped up by a failure to cultivate an attractive value proposition.
And a definition of what constitutes "elite" would also need to be imposed. It can't be just being the top team in country A or country B.
-
As Caribbean nations we need to develop a sense of passion, pride, and self esteem about our perchance for football. We have the talent, we have the facilities and we have the knowledge. So why do we always have to rely on foreign coaches, and techniques to elevate our level and to bring a sense of salvation to our game?
I say we spend more time elevating the status, training and the economics for our players. We should look at forming a Caribbean Professional Football League (C.P.F.L.) Let's develop some regional rivalry and expand the skill base in our respective nations within the region.
So here we are today 2023 and now we talking CARIBBEAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE and prior to this 19912-1995 and we are still at a cross roads in regards to our football development as a region.
More like dead end.