Messages

271

Football / Re: Look Loy: TTFF needs to now stand on it's own legs.

« on: June 22, 2011, 04:07:45 PM »

Are you people for real? The regions sit in the TTFF general council and executive. And by the way, so does the SSFL. These representatives are elected by the clubs and schools, to which they are accountable. It is the responsibility of the clubs and schools - to demand proper representation from their representatives. Blame "the TTFF" all you want for the weaknesses in local football, there is enough blame to be shared around at all levels. The issue at this point, however, is not who to blame but how to move forward. Sitting on the outside, divorced from reality on the ground, trapped by a warped perspective, and pontificating doesn't help. In fact, it clouds clear-headed judgement...

272

Football / Re: Look Loy: TTFF needs to now stand on it's own legs.

« on: June 22, 2011, 02:29:31 PM »

How long has he been in that position? Has he ever proposed or implemented any change? The only reason guys like that are speaking up now is because the money well will soon run dry.

MEP, do you think it's possible that there some people who have been internally arguing the need for professionalization and change, without conducting their argument in the public media - as is the norm in our toxic political culture? Your not knowing what someone is doing doesn't mean it isn't being done. Consider that.
And your final question makes no sense. If the money is soon to "run dry" (and as you imply, he is in it for the money), why talk about what is needed to move the TTFF forward? Progress demands clear thinking - not emotion.

273

Football / Re: Pro League clubs want salary cap

« on: June 14, 2011, 03:04:49 PM »

Thank you Deeks...

274

Football / Re: Believe it to achieve it

« on: June 14, 2011, 01:49:51 PM »

You are correct that too many of the TT Pro league clubs want to "outsource" youth development. Good way to describe their approach, but a real club academy requires REAL money. Where will it come from? And selling to MLS will not provide a solution to Pro League financial worries - MLS hates to pay a transfer fee for any player who does not have a big name. Neither will reliance of government for subsidies. In fact, the sport company (SPORTT) is right now in the process of cutting back on the monthly subsidy given to Caledonia and the two other "community" clubs. No broadcast income - no meaningful sponsorship - no merchandising - not even gate receipts - no fairy Godfather - that's the reality. Solution: Forget the Pro League. Create a three-tiered national league and absorb the members of the TT Pro League. Go from there..................

275

Football / Re: Believe it to achieve it

« on: June 14, 2011, 11:54:34 AM »

The issue is not whether to introduce a salary cap or not. The REAL issue is whether the TT "Pro" League could (or should) survive or not. Modern professional football is based on the following income streams, the order of priority depending on the league and the club: 1) broadcast rights, 2) sponsorship, 3) merchandising, and 4) gate receipts. The TT "Pro" League, and more so its clubs, does NOT have any of these to rely on in any significant degree. I do not include the sponsorship of a Cup competition here, particularly given the league's "winner-take-all" approach to prize monies in at least one tournament.

The fact is, therefore, that the league's membership generally relies on deep private pockets to survive. The State teams (Defence Force, Police) aside, the rest are doomed to struggle because those who talk most - the fans who prefer to watch foreign football on television, the media, and the non-supportive private corporate "community" - do next to nothing to support the local game on a commercial basis, never mind the local professional game. Indeed, they generally won't give the price of a pack of peanuts to support a local player, club or competition that really needs it. People don't know it, but there are players in the "Pro" league playing FOR FREE! (All of this is NOT to say that local football cannot find funding. I point to the recent Queen's park Cricket Club "schools" tournament and the Sport Minister's recent community tournament - wasted investments, if ever there was one. How did these tournaments improve the local game? There is no shortage of competitions in local football, at every level. The issue is DEVELOPMENT - commercial, technical and administrative - NOT competitions).

In the end, the central question arises: Can Trinidad and Tobago finance truly professional football, and certainly at this time? I would offer a resounding "NO!". The time has long passed for us to recognize this and to return to the NATIONAL League format (including two national divisions - one and two - and a third organized along regional lines, with promotion and relegation. This is an old concept and the divisions already exist, in essence. Now, if within that one club could pay its players a living wage - that is, as professionals - that's fine. If another could provide employment. That's fine. If a third could pay a monthly traveling stipend and/or a match bonus. That too is fine. They all would form part of the same division. This is the ONLY formula that makes sense in today's Trinidad and Tobago. Forget anything else. No pipe dreams.

276

Football / Re: Pro League clubs want salary cap

« on: June 14, 2011, 11:53:37 AM »

The issue is not whether to introduce a salary cap or not. The REAL issue is whether the TT "Pro" League could (or should) survive or not. Modern professional football is based on the following income streams, the order of priority depending on the league and the club: 1) broadcast rights, 2) sponsorship, 3) merchandising, and 4) gate receipts. The TT "Pro" League, and more so its clubs, does NOT have any of these to rely on in any significant degree. I do not include the sponsorship of a Cup competition here, particularly given the league's "winner-take-all" approach to prize monies in at least one tournament.

The fact is, therefore, that the league's membership generally relies on deep private pockets to survive. The State teams (Defence Force, Police) aside, the rest are doomed to struggle because those who talk most - the fans who prefer to watch foreign football on television, the media, and the non-supportive private corporate "community" - do next to nothing to support the local game on a commercial basis, never mind the local professional game. Indeed, they generally won't give the price of a pack of peanuts to support a local player, club or competition that really needs it. People don't know it, but there are players in the "Pro" league playing FOR FREE! (All of this is NOT to say that local football cannot find funding. I point to the recent Queen's park Cricket Club "schools" tournament and the Sport Minister's recent community tournament - wasted investments, if ever there was one. How did these tournaments improve the local game? There is no shortage of competitions in local football, at every level. The issue is DEVELOPMENT - commercial, technical and administrative - NOT competitions).

In the end, the central question arises: Can Trinidad and Tobago finance truly professional football, and certainly at this time? I would offer a resounding "NO!". The time has long passed for us to recognize this and to return to the NATIONAL League format (including two national divisions - one and two - and a third organized along regional lines, with promotion and relegation. This is an old concept and the divisions already exist, in essence. Now, if within that one club could pay its players a living wage - that is, as professionals - that's fine. If another could provide employment. That's fine. If a third could pay a monthly traveling stipend and/or a match bonus. That too is fine. They all would form part of the same division. This is the ONLY formula that makes sense in today's Trinidad and Tobago. Forget anything else. No pipe dreams.

277

Football / Re: Touching base with Keith Look Loy.

« on: June 11, 2011, 10:04:22 AM »

OK pal. Your mind is made up. Don't confuse yourself with facts. You win...

278

Football / Re: Touching base with Keith Look Loy.

« on: June 11, 2011, 04:06:04 AM »

Deeks, these ideas are ALREADY in motion...

279

Football / Re: Touching base with Keith Look Loy.

« on: June 10, 2011, 06:53:57 PM »

To say that the development of players lies at the feet of clubs and grassroot organizations is partly correct and missing a major piece of the developmental puzzle.

We live in a society where people like to look to the authorities for everything. The clubs have daily contact with the mass of players. They have the most critical role to play in youth development. The national association could only provide selected tools to assist them in doing so. What does this mean? That the direct responsibility lies with the clubs.

You evidently live in the USA and you would know the USSF does not and cannot coach club players - despite their massive resources. Obviously, the national association - in our case, the TTFF - must 1) implement a coaching education programme (ongoing in association with the KNVB); 2) select the best youth talent for advanced training (regional training centres applying a standardized training syllabus have been established with the assistance of FIFA); 3) create a national youth league (this has been done, also with the assistance of FIFA, it is now in its third season); 4) establish minimal criteria for the registration of clubs (underway after a FIFA club development course but not moving fast enough).

Any other conceptual framework would be futility.

280

Football / Re: Touching base with Keith Look Loy.

« on: June 10, 2011, 05:13:08 PM »

I spoke to a former teamate of mine who coaches in SSFL. He said that he did explain to the SSFL admin. at a meeting that could play 2 rounds of football,  but they shot down the idea. Jack has ilfiltrated that organization too. I honestly thinkthat the SSFL is concerned that if the pro clubs get a good youth program going, it could siphone the talented players from schools to the clubs. I think that may well be true but the SSFL will survive with lesser talent. They will have to readjust.

Deeks, come on man. Jack has infiltrated the SSFL but not the Northern FA or Tobago FA? They played two rounds of football in 2010. I do agree with you, 'though, that the SSFL, and its members, has always been opposed to the creation of serious club youth programmes and a quality national youth league. They believe their interests over-ride the national interest, and they are encouraged in this by the media and the public in general because they supposedly provide the basis for national selection. This is a myth of public perception that even you apparently believe. The fact is the players would not be "siphoned from schools to clubs". Quite the opposite, the schools get their players from clubs! THIS is the reality. If we get going in a serious, professional manner, the SSFL would be for the boys who cannot make a club team.

281

Football / Re: Touching base with Keith Look Loy.

« on: June 10, 2011, 08:59:55 AM »

"The Washington Post’s Paul Tenorio did an excellent job reporting on the dilemma in a recent article headlined, “Is it best to play in high school, or on an academy team?”

Tony Lepore, director of scouting for U.S. youth national teams and a technical adviser for the Development Academy, says, “In top footballing nations, school soccer is not where the top players play and develop. That’s how this has evolved and how this shift has continued. ... We’ve given the choice to the clubs. It’s not a mandate yet, but we totally get why they’re choosing that and that’s why we’re supporting it.”

All of the above is a quote from "Soccer America" (27 May 2011). NOBODY who is serious about developing young talent could argue that a schools' league is the place to do it. We fall short in this regard in Trinidad and Tobago and, while it is simple and easy to blame the TTFF, the clubs at every level of the local game must also shoulder responsibility in equal measure. Indeed, more so, as a national association is not responsible for developing talent at grassroots and club levels. The clubs and community football organizations are. The responsibility of the national association is to cream the talent and prepare it for international competition.

To answer your question, a few local clubs are seeking to develop young talent in a proper manner but generally, for all the talk, youth development is seen as a burden by most of the "big" clubs and they readily concede ground to the SSFL. For its part, the TTFF has established regional centres at Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 level.

282

Football / Re: ARSENAL FORWARD

« on: June 10, 2011, 08:37:01 AM »

Arsene Wenger has failed the Gooners for at least four seasons now. A perennial third place (and now fourth) is certainly not good enough for a big club like the Arsenal. He is a stubborn man and refuses to modify his failed management model, which is based on allowing senior players (read: "big men") to leave, and recruiting young and/or unknown talent (read: "little boys and insecure newcomers"), which some see as a virtue of sorts. And I do not want to hear about the mortgage resulting from building the Emirates. As a long time Gooner I expect nothing from the Arsenal next season, and it may be worse as Tottenham and Liverpool are beefing up. Wenger should exit stage right and keep on walking.

283

Football / Re: Touching base with Keith Look Loy.

« on: June 10, 2011, 08:13:56 AM »

Agreed Deeks!

284

Football / Re: Touching base with Keith Look Loy.

« on: June 10, 2011, 05:42:11 AM »

Brown sugar, thanks for the greeting. I hear you. Change made...

285

Football / Re: Touching base with Keith Look Loy.

« on: June 10, 2011, 04:47:55 AM »

But now the SSFL is actually struggling to keep its autonomy. This government can forced them to comply with TTFF. Anil and Jack. For instance, last year only 1 round of football was played because of the women's WC. 2 rounds could have been played,  but them SSFL official  bowed to  jack to follow the leader.

One thing about the past CFL. With exception of QRC and Sando Tech, all the school which played in the old colleges league division1 were non government schools. The power was in the hands of Saints, fatima, Belmont, Benedicts, Naps, Pres. I would add QRC in this group even though gov't took it over. But when the league was expanded, the so-called big schools lost their power(both in the administration and on the field of play).

Deeks, you are correct the old Colleges Football League always maintained political distance between itself and the old TTFA, (but the schools' league did participate in the association's inter-league competition and never looked out of place). But a few comments:

- ALL football leagues were affected by the 2010 Women's Under 17 World Cup. I am certain you will agree that domestic football could not proceed with a World Cup being simultaneously played. However, the decision to play one round of post-World Cup football was entirely an SSFL decision. In contrast, the Northern FA and the Tobago FA both played TWO rounds, as is normal in league football. The government and Jack Warner and the TTFF did not force anyone to do anything in this regard.
- I agree that the expansion of schools' football beyond the traditional CFL schools was excellent. (I will also argue that the league now needs to revisit its structure as today we have schools that clearly do not have the minimum quality playing in the zonal Championship divisions. We need a return to one NATIONAL Championship division, which would concentrate the best talent.
- Finally, government did not "take over" QRC. The school was established in 1859 by the British colonial government for the secondary education of local boys. It has been a government school since that time.
- You should be careful with your "facts".

286

Football / Re: Touching base with Keith Look Loy.

« on: June 09, 2011, 07:46:40 PM »

...and Cocorite, I hear you, but the truth is that the MLS clubs have long ago seen the limitations of the collegiate system as a feeder. The MLS clubs all have junior teams that increasingly recruit players directly and avoid four wasted years in college. Could you imagine Messi turning pro at 22? Meantime, the USSF has also established its academy system for elite youth clubs. The fact is that "US soccer" is moving away from the high school and university as the basis for its professional game and national teams.

287

Football / Re: Touching base with Keith Look Loy.

« on: June 09, 2011, 07:37:21 PM »

You clearly don't follow our national youth teams. These teams are in continuous action, training on a weekly basis, ahead of youth World Cup qualifying. What DOES present an obstacle to this preparation is the SSFL schedule, the parents who want their son to be in the school team, the players who want to be seen on TV and in the dailies and get some girls, and the school officials who believe the school team is more important than the national team. They ALL give priority to the school at the expense of the nation. Indeed, the last Under 17 team is now "disbanded" until December in order to allow the players time to participate in TT Pro League and SSFL competitions. You can't have your cake and eat it...

288

Football / Re: Touching base with Keith Look Loy.

« on: June 09, 2011, 07:10:11 PM »

A few bullet point responses:

- In a seriously professional environment the SSFL would have a role to play. To provide recreation for those boys not good enough to make it into a professional club environment.
- The TTFF does not rely on the SSFL to identify players. In fact, the national coaches look at the TT Pro League for most of their selections.
- Playing for an SSFL member school does not get you into a US university. Playing for a national team AND your SAT score is the best guarantee for that.
- The TTFF and the TT Pro League need to make the political decision to establish a serious national youth league that runs for eight or nine months a year, regardless of the SSFL response to that.
- Part-time youth football is guaranteed to continue our inconsistent international record at youth level.

289

Football / Re: Touching base with Keith Look Loy.

« on: June 09, 2011, 06:44:22 PM »

In the 1960s and 1970s the SSFL filled an important void and played a critical role since, outside of of the schools' league, essentially there was no organized youth football. Moreover, prior to that era the school teams played in open, men's leagues, POSFL, SFL, etc, and for that reason schoolboys could hold their own against men and even played for the national team. As an example, Look Loy himself was selected to the North men's team for the inter-zonal tournament of 1971, while still at St. Mary's College. This is hardly the case now, when the average age of a school team must be seventeen, and there is an abundance of youth clubs, coaching clinics and youth programmes. Unlike the 1960s and before, the issue now is not quantity but quality. No comparison, I'm afraid.

290

Football / Re: Touching base with Keith Look Loy.

« on: June 09, 2011, 06:13:37 PM »

I am new to this site but there is so much that could be said in response to some of the commentary on this article. I will focus on the SSFL.  Players, like Kenwyne Jones, may be GRATEFUL for having the opportunity to play in a league that receives more fan support and media coverage than any other local league - it brings them into public focus - but that does not take away from the fact that the SSFL is essentially non-professional, extra-curricular, and recreational.

We need to extricate ourselves from the illusion that the schools' league creates players. It does not. Players come into this league having been introduced to the game elsewhere than the school - whether informally in their neighbourhood "sweat" or formally through membership in a clinic or club. Youth players spend most of their football lives playing in football clubs of varying quality. And the truth is that is most, if not all schools, the lower divisions are not given serious focus and the players do not receive quality coaching. This is restricted to the Championship division. Finally, on average, the SSFL occupies no more than four months of a young player's athletic year. Compare this recreational, part-time approach to the seriously professional football federations, which have clubs that devote significant resources, human and financial, to the training of young talent, five or six days per week, ten months a year, over the course of ten to twelve years, on average.

Despite all of these limitations the league continues to play an important role in the training of young players. Why? Because local clubs, professional and non-professional alike, continue to fail, most of them, to properly prepare the next generation of players. Indeed, the youth programme and competitions of the TT Pro League are in some ways farcical, with clubs "adopting" school teams for three months, thereby circumventing the league's requirement for each club to establish and maintain a proper youth development programme. Indeed, in that league we have seen the absurdity of an external youth club or coaching clinic representing more than one professional club in different divisions in the same competition.

So the point is not whether or not the SSFL is a good league. The point is that the SSFL is not good ENOUGH to allow us to compete consistently in serious international competition. Where, in serious footballing nations, the professional clubs work hard at developing top young players, in Trinidad and Tobago the TT Pro League, the TTFF Super League and the regional association leagues cease their youth football, generally held between April/May and July,  in order to avoid conflict with the SSFL, which begins in September and runs until November! And we want to compete?

Until and unless the hard political decision is taken by all concerned to relegate the SSFL to what its true status - recreational league - and to cease its (no doubt well-meaning) undermining of youth player development, so long will we continue to complain about our national youth teams inconsistent performance and results in international competition. And THAT is the truth.