Is it insecurity and inferiority or just indifference?
Indifference means lack of interest, disinterest, that is indeed present when it comes to supporting the ttfa because of their negligence over the years. However, our fans, populous are insecure and the inferiority complex stems from their lack of belief in themselves, their country and their people. The TTFA cannot be blamed for this mentality and it's exemplified with comments like "more Messi jerseys will be in the stadium than our national kit". That is not indifference... Indifference is not the root of the problem.
And it is certainly not at the heart of those comments about the jerseys and the team.
Also there isn't a lack of interest in watching world football, la liga, premiership, the interest is there. They will run out and buy the jersey or run out and buy a marley jersey, ask them if they are buying a national jersey? That is not indifference, TT is now a place where the kids are pseudo this and pseudo that because they are insecure.
Ok so in your haste to label the T&T fans as having insecurities and inferiority complex you forgot to take into consideration many factors in attracting and entertaining fans. Football must be viewed from the administrative side as a business. Like amwood mentioned the party game in T&T is off the charts. You attend parties that can rival any party around the world. Lets look at how the TTFF/A has failed to attract fans, entertain fans and keep fans coming back
Let's explore this a bit.
Product - in order to gain peoples' attention you must have a quality product that people will want to use/be part of.
- What benefits will the product provide?
- How will consumers react to the product?
Branding - you have to be able to reach your target audience with consistent, specific, information.
- How will consumers access the product consistently?
- How is your product different/better than established/similar/comparative products on the market?
Launching - presenting the product to your audience
- How?
- When?
Analysis - looking at how the product was received by your target audience and what improvements can be made.
Sustainability - You must be able to consistently meet your audience demands. Outside of meeting those demands you must constantly engage your audience with varying choices of your product.
Community - Through constant interaction and services to your audience you should initiate some form of loyalty program in an effort to allow your audience to make your product their own. This is where fans and supporters are develop and relationships are formed.
The TTFF made (from my recollection) two (2) major attempts at branding the MNT.
1.
Strike Squad/Road to Italy/Kaisoca Soccer - Which was quickly abandonned after JW made off with all the money. Also no efforts were made to reconcile fans emotional let down from the results of the game that day.
2.
Germany/Soca Warriors/ticket or leave it - Again after the WC JW made off with all the money leaving once again a major feeling of resentment, bitterness and another emotional void among supporters. Once again no efforts to reconcile with fans
Other efforts at commercializing, "94 for sure", I think it had one more after this, Beckham to T&T, Youth WCs.
The TTFF never place a premium on long-term product development and placement. Therefore, fans turn to a product where they can rely on service, entertainment and be a part of the "team". These products are Chelsea, Barca, Real Madrid, Man United, Messi, Ronaldo, Drogba, etc. These products are branded, they are sustainable, and they provide a community.
In todays world you cannot just say "Braps, loook meh!" Not gonna work. Every Footballing organization in the world guard their product with utmost vigilance. The TTFF, not so much. No calendar, no interaction, no responsibility, no product placement, no sustainability, no community, no loyalty.
Producers compete for the public business. Successful Producers know that people have many choices when it comes to exchanging their money for services, therefore, successful producers consistently engage their audience to ensure that their product is being chosen.
So to say fans are insecure or have some form of inferiority complex may not be entirely true.
