Trinifinte,
yuh have some good points and yes you need communities to support the football but the real issue is if you take a wholistic view of sport on the whole in TT there is no money to be made in any substantial way.
Football and sports by extension has to compete with Movietown, the dvd pirates and fetes for the man on the streets hard earned dollar which has no real value these days.
Also the quality of the entertainment...i.e the football match must be of value to the individual.
Value is measured on three levels functional,emtional, self worth.......functional being what use/enjoyment am I getting from this, emotional.......mentally how does this satify me and self worth......how does this make me feel and look in the eyes of others.
e.g lara fete, carnival time the ticket price is not reflective of the food, grog and entertainment on display, but what you are paying for is the ambience, the gape at the "wildlife" the interaction with the whos who in society and the Coast or ranks yuh get from telling yuh people...I went that fete, thus the emotional and self worth aspects are satisfied.
Now using the above example.......how does going to a Caledonia fire vs Tobago united compare? On what level does this PFL game provide value to the consumer given the number of substitute activites there are vying for the individuals income.
Which is why only the FCb cup and Big PFL games in TT draw crowd as they include free giveaways, riddim sections, entertainers etc. Thus increasing the value that a fan gets when he walks in.
honestly only when football is the "in" place to be seen, is the lime or the coast for the Non footballing people will it ever generate money.
Also culturally we do not have sport as a viable option in terms of career path. Most pro ballers abroad play only football from primary school age going to academies etc. They are not like the avg school child here in TT who have class, play secondary school ball and o,A levels etc.
This factor immediately puts us behind the curve in developing athletes.
Govnt has a major part to play in the development of sports but buying blimps, taking over sporting grounds etc has taken precidence.
Also when you talk to ole timers about the crowds in the oval and skinnerpark in the days...........remember the quality on display was better and the other substitutes for entertainment were limited......only channel 2 and 13 and before dat no tv. they didnt have cable to rock back and watch Champions league. Their Champions league was the local heroes who walking down the road and sweating after work.
Things have evolved and we must accept that.
I think the best case scenario should not be a good pro league. but the construction of a academy of football. From the time you are 4-5 years old and yuh good you come in. When you step in there you are a footballer and will have classes but is mainly football. The end result is a player to be sold to a foreign team generating revenue. Worse case scenario you will end up on a football schol in a University abroad.
This lil project while far fetched will produce a team in every age group and a good contender for each WC in various age groups.
Then have the various PFl, Semi-pro and minor leagues around the country to continue as is and be a feeder to the academy or national programme.
If a player falls by the wayside due to injury or just not good enough he will be adequately educated and a work programme with various companies be set up so that he can return to society and be a normal citizen.
Far fetched yes........but it can be done.
