Super League kicks off Wednesday
By Kern De Freitas (Trinidad Express)
In just four days, teams in the bmobile National Super League will have more than 100,000 reasons to win the League competition, which kicks off on Wednesday.
The winners of this year's league will take home $105,000 in prize money, with the runners-up collecting $60,000, and the third-place team $32,000.
All ten teams will be in action on the first match day, with debutants Alcoa Carenage United hosting M&M Harvard on St Anthony's College Ground from 4 p.m., WASA FC take on other newcomers Harlem Strikers at WASA's St Joseph ground, while bmobile Joe Public FC-who topped the playoff tournament to become the first of the new Super League teams-meet Crab Connection at San Juan Secondary Comprehensive.
The other two contests pit Tobago team Angostura 1976 Phoenix against Defence Force FC at Bon Accord and Caroni FC against House of Dread at Gilbert Park.
The teams will also be vying for the Super League's knockout title, which carries a bounty of $50,000 for the victors, while $15,000 is the top prize in the Big Four competition.
The top six clubs will also fight alongside the ten T&T Pro League teams in the Toyota Classic knockout tournament.
As a further incentive, to assist the teams in developing their fan base, the Super League will also turn in 50 per cent of their gate receipts to the respective clubs.
The Super League will also enjoy television support, with highlights to be aired on CCN TV6 every weekend, including a "Game of the Week".
Owing to the mandate of the T&T Football Federation, all clubs now also have to field Under-15 squads to compete as well. The only team with the option not to do so is Phoenix, because they have to travel from the sister isle. They can, however, adopt a youth team in Trinidad to take part in competitions.
The bane for organisers All Sport Promotions, though, according to marketing director Tony Harford at yesterday's launch at the Queen's Park Oval Pavilion, is the unavailability of grounds, which forced some teams to forfeit home advantage, due to the ill-prepared state of some community grounds.
To this end, the Super League organisers have made an agreement with the Port of Spain City Corporation to prepare King George V Park in St Clair to facilitate some matches.
Aside from principal sponsors TSTT bmobile, the Super League is also being supported by Sportworld, RBTT and the Ministry of Sport.
