2017 TT Super League Thread.

[Flex]

Cunupia FC sign agreement with Brazilian club Cruzeiro.
By Stephon Nicholas (Newsday).

Cunupia FC will be campaigning in the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) for its 2017 season but their main goal is to be the best football club in the country. As part of their mission, Cunupia FC coach, Michael De Four, visited famed Brazilian club, Cruzeiro, on March where he inspected their infrastructure, interacted with their players and officials and signed a player exchange agreement during a three-week stay.

Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is one of Brazil’s biggest ever clubs, producing outstanding players such as 2002 World Cup winner Ronaldo, renowned goalkeeper Dida and hard-tackling ex-Chelsea midfielder Ramires. Several other legends have played for the Belo Horizonte-based club including 1970 World Cup champion Jairzinho, former Barcelona icon Rivaldo, 2001 UEFA Champions League winner Giovane Elber and many others.

Speaking to Newsday about his visit, DeFour, who coached Cunupia FC to their Championship title last year, declared: “This trip came about after winning the Central zone and winning the (National Super League) Championship (division). We at the club want to go to the next level.

We don’t want to look at a top T&T club and say ‘we want to be like that’. We wanted to see how a top international club operates and what better place to do that than Brazil?” He continued: “When I see Ronaldo and Maicon came from there, I asked why not (visit)? Cruzeiro constantly produces good players and we wanted to see why.” One of the areas of interest to De Four and Cunupia FC was Cruzeiro’s approach to getting players to a superior fitness level.

“We at the club feel we play good and attractive football. Over the years, every national coach that is hired says we have to get fitter. Part of our drive is to see what is their (Cruzeiro) approach of conditioning an international level calibre player and I got a big insight into that,” he said.

While not willing to disclose what he learned, he indicated that moving forward, fitness “has to be a more scientific approach.

It can’t be just seeing a player running some laps.” Adding to the allure of the famous club was the culture of football that surrounds it.

“I think T&T could fit in Brazil 1700 times. I’ve been to places where men were just ‘sweating’ and they were on turf (grass).

I think T&T only has one turf facility.

There are turf pitches for children Under-10 as well to just take a sweat. Football plays here 12 months a year,” he said.

Comparing T&T to Brazil, he added: “Football here (in Trinidad) is mostly recreational and you might have a man trying to make it professional. But there, it is a job and children grow up wanting to be a footballer just like maybe a doctor or lawyer or policeman.” A key component of the visit was the fostering of a long term relationship with the Brazilian club.

“We signed an agreement for player exchange as well as other things like coaches (exchange) and (sharing) knowledge.

This agreement takes effect immediately but we have to get ourselves organised and tweak a few things first,” he said.

De Four said he marvelled at the youth development programme at Cruzeiro which he called a factory.

“Children Under-12 get dropped off at the facility from 7am and they go to class, get their meals and everything and play football too. There is law that says you can’t live there (at the club) under the age of 14 but basically everything is in place. It’s like a football factory here,” he said.

De Four said he was stunned by the standard of football on display by some of the youngsters at the club.

“When they are playing a game, it’s very organised and no coach is shouting at them to pass the ball or anything like that. They already know what they have to do,” he said.

Asked to summarise his stay in Brazil, the local coach said: “It was a wonderful, edifying and a nice learning experience.” He also described the city of Belo Horizonte as “simply beautiful” and hopes to return soon.

[Flex]

TTSL rejects TTFA’s proposal.

THE recently-formed TTSL (Trinidad and Tobago Super League) has unanimously rejected a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) Board’s sub-committee on the TTSL.

In a media release issued yesterday, the TTSL noted that its 21 member clubs, at a meeting on March 20, were presented with the MOU, which offered to allow the clubs/ TTSL to run the National Super League.

“In response, TTSL committed to forward a formal proposal counter offer to the TTFA’s rejected MOU,” the media release said. “(The) TTSL is not requesting TTFA membership for its administrative and commercial arm TTSL Limited but for recognition of TTSL as an autonomous, second tier league within the hierarchy of TT football, which is legally represented by TTSL Limited.”

Memorandum of agreement between the TTSL and the TTFA.

Dear Sir,
 
At the meeting of Monday 20 March 2017 between the TTFA Board’s sub-committee on TTSL and the general membership of TTSL, said sub-committee tabled a proposed Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between TTFA and the clubs of TTSL, which offered to allow the clubs/TTSL to run the National Super League. This proposed MOU was unanimously rejected by the twenty-one (21) TTSL clubs represented at the meeting. In response, TTSL committed to forward a formal proposal counter offer to the TTFA’s rejected MOU. 
 
TTSL proposes to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with TTFA, which is copied below. This proposed MOA offers an alternative pathway to the recognition of our league, which is based on the TT Pro League model, which is:
 
1. The ten (10) member clubs of TT Pro League are directly affiliated to the TTFA and are full members of TTFA.

2. These ten (10) member clubs are collectively recognized as TT Pro League, an autonomous league within TTFA, with representation in the TTFA Constitution and General Meeting.
 
Accordingly, TTSL is of the view that the recognized and established TT Pro League model should applied to TTSL as follows:
 
1. The current twenty-two (22) member clubs of TT Super League are already directly affiliated to TTFA and are full members of TTFA.

2. These current twenty-two (22) members clubs should be collectively recognized as TT Super League, an autonomous league within TTFA, with representation in the TTFA Constitution and General Meeting.

3. An MOA should be signed between TTFA and TTSL Limited, the legal representative of the twenty-two (22) TTFA members which currently comprise TTSL.
 
Please note that TTSL is NOT requesting TTFA membership for its administrative and commercial arm, TTSL Limited,  but for recognition of TTSL as an autonomous, second tier league within the hierarchy of Trinidad and Tobago football, which is legally represented by TTSL Limited.
 
TTFA officials have repeatedly stated the Association’s readiness to approve TTSL. Therefore, TTSL members await TTFA’s urgent response.
 
Keith Look Loy
TTSL

Below is the entire proposed MOA.

Memorandum of Agreement

This Agreement is made and effective from on xx of xxxx 2017

Between

1. The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (‘TTFA’), a body corporate established under Act No. 17 of 1982 under the Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, which is responsible for the regulation, control, conduct and promotion of football in Trinidad and Tobago.  It is a member of both the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (‘CONCACAF’) and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (‘FIFA’) on the one part; and

And

2. Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited, a company incorporated under the Companies Act, Chap. 81:01 of the Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to represent the interests of the twenty-two (22) football clubs listed in Schedule 1, which is annexed to this Agreement, and which are full members of the TTFA that played in the 2016 TTFA National Super League (‘TTSL’) on the other part.

By which IT IS AGREED:

FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OF THIS AGREEMENT
 
1.1 - The Trinidad and Tobago Pro League (‘TT Pro League’) is the first tier of league football in Trinidad and Tobago.
 
FIFA has mandated TTFA to establish a properly constituted second tier of league football in conjunction with the clubs of the TTFA National Super League.
 
1.3 - The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) recognizes the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL), which comprises the clubs that played in the TTFA National Super League, as listed in Schedule A appended hereto.
 
4. TTFA and TTSL mutually recognize each other and agree to work together to improve and develop the game of football in Trinidad and Tobago.
 
5. TTFA recognizes Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited (TTSL Limited) as the sole legal, administrative and commercial representative and arm of TTSL, the full member clubs of which are the sole shareholders in TTSL Limited, as outlined in the company’s by-laws.
 
PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT
 
1. The purpose of this Agreement is to establish the terms and conditions under which the TTSL member clubs will establish and manage their own football competitions, in accordance with requirements of the TTFA Constitution.
 
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT
TTFA hereby agrees with TTSL Limited and recognizes that:

1. TTSL is the second tier of league football in Trinidad and Tobago;
 
2. TTSL is an autonomous football league comprising the clubs listed in the attached Schedule 1, as may vary from time to time through the system of relegation from or promotion to TTSL;
 
3. Promotion and relegation between TTSL and Regional Association football will take place by way of the annual TTFA Champion of Champions tournament for Regional Association champions;
 
4. TTSL member clubs are solely responsible for the establishment and management of the League competition, the League Cup competition and any other competition they may choose to establish;
 
5. TTSL member clubs retain their status as full members of TTFA, directly affiliated to the TTFA;
 
6. TTSL replaces the TTFA National Super League in the organizational structure and Constitution of the TTFA;
 
7. TTSL Limited is the administrative and commercial arm of TTSL, solely responsible for the management of the TTSL;
 
NO VARIATION
 
1. This Agreement may not be unilaterally abrogated or amended, and may be altered only by mutual consent of TTFA and TTSL Ltd.
 
2. Any changes, modifications, revisions or amendments to this Agreement, which are mutually agreed upon by and between TTFA and TTSL Ltd, shall be incorporated by written instrument, and become effective when executed and signed by authorized representatives of both parties to this Agreement.
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
1. This Agreement and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter or formation shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
 
NO PARTNERSHIP OR AGENCY
 
1. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, or shall be deemed to, establish any partnership or joint venture between any of the parties, constitute any party the agent of another party, or authorise any party to make or enter into any commitments for or on behalf of any other party
 
7.0 - ENTIRETY OF AGREEMENT

7.1 - This Agreement hereto constitutes the entire Agreement between the contracting Parties in connection with the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any previous discussion, agreement, statement, representation, understanding or undertaking whether written or oral given or made before the effective date of this Agreement relating to the subject matter.
 
SEVERABILITY
 
1. If any provision or part-provision of this agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal and enforceable. If such modification is not possible, the relevant provision or part-provision shall be deemed deleted. Any modification to or deletion of a provision or part-provision under this clause shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of this agreement
 
2. If one party gives notice to the other of the possibility that any provision or part-provision of this agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to amend such provision so that, as amended, it is legal, valid and enforceable, and, to the greatest extent possible, achieves the intended commercial result of the original provision
 
WAIVER
 
1. No failure or delay by a party to exercise any right or remedy provided under this agreement or by law shall constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy, nor shall it prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. No single or partial exercise of such right or remedy shall prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.
 
RIGHTS AND REMEDIES
 
1. All rights granted to either of the parties shall be cumulative and the exercise by either of the parties of any right under this Agreement shall not restrict or prejudice the exercise of any other right granted by this Agreement or otherwise available to it
 
THIRD PARTY RIGHTS
 
11.1  - Except where expressly provided to the contrary, this Agreement is not intended to be for the benefit of, and shall not be enforceable by any person who is not specifically named at the date of this Agreement as a party to it, and neither party can declare itself a trustee for the benefit of a third party.
 
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
 
1. The parties acknowledge and agree that they shall adopt a policy of trying to reach settlement of all matters at issue between them by an amicable process of negotiation and mediation.
 
2. Any and all claims, controversies, disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement and which remain unresolved after direct negotiation with the parties, including any question regarding its existence, validity or termination, the Parties agree to submit the dispute to Mediation, and any signed resolution arrived at in Mediation shall be binding upon the Parties. In the event that the Parties cannot agree a Mediator, such Mediator shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Dispute Resolution Centre of Trinidad and Tobago.
 
3. If either party fails or refuses to agree to or participate in the ADR procedure or where the Parties fail to arrive at a resolution in Mediation within 10 days of the commencement of such Mediation or in any event the dispute is not resolved within 60 calendar days after it has arisen, either party may, by notice in writing, inform the other party of its intention to pursue any other remedies that may be available to it, provided that no such conduct, statements, promises, offers, views and opinions expressed during the course of the mediation shall be used in any subsequent litigation proceedings.
 
4. Both parties reserve all their respective rights in the event that no agreed resolution shall be reached in the ADR procedure, and neither shall be deemed to be precluded from taking such interim formal steps as may be considered necessary to protect such party’s position or to preserve any legal right or remedy while the mediation or other ADR procedure is pending or continuing.
 
AS WITNESS whereof this Agreement has been signed on behalf of the parties.
 
SIGNED BY DAVID JOHN WILLIAMS
PRESIDENT and duly authorized representative of
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION in the presence of:
 
SIGNED BY KEITH LOOK LOY
DIRECTOR and duly authorized representative of
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SUPER LEAGUE LIMITED in the presence of:
 
Title of Witness
Secretary Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited
 
Name of Witness
Camara David
 
SCHEDULE 1

List of Clubs
 
Barrackpore United FC
Bethel FC
Central 500 Spartans FC
Club Sando
Cunupia FC
FC Santa Rosa
Guaya United FC
Marabella Family Crisis Centre
Matura Reunited FC
Petit Valley United FC
Petrotrin Palo Seco Sports Club
1976 Phoenix FC
Prisons FC
Queen’s Park Cricket Club
Real Maracas FC
Saddle Hill Hotspur FC
Siparia Spurs FC
Defence Force FC
Police FC
University of Trinidad and Tobago
WASA FC
Youth Stars FC

[Deeks]

AS WITNESS whereof this Agreement has been signed on behalf of the parties.
 
SIGNED BY DAVID JOHN WILLIAMS
PRESIDENT and duly authorized representative of
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION in the presence of:
 
SIGNED BY KEITH LOOK LOY
DIRECTOR and duly authorized representative of
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SUPER LEAGUE LIMITED in the presence of:
 
Title of Witness
Secretary Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited
 
Name of Witness
Camara David


Allyuh sure this is a copy of the real transaction. Right now Contro pump so much conspiracy theory in meh head, I am leaning on the skeptical side now.

[Flex]

The MOA I posted deeks is PROPOSED. NOT SIGNED. The TTSL still waiting.

[Deeks]

The MOA I posted deeks is PROPOSED. NOT SIGNED. The TTSL still waiting.

Cool, Breds!

[Sam]

What a shame, the TTFA wants to control everything, lets see what Look Loy go do now because de FIFA president and John Williams is personal friends, so DJW feel nobody could touch him.

[Deeks]

What a shame, the TTFA wants to control everything, lets see what Look Loy go do now because de FIFA president and John Williams is personal friends, so DJW feel nobody could touch him.

Leh we see what go happen!

[Mose]

I would think that once they can prove that they (TTSL) have complied with all of the requirements of the TTFA constitution then they could apply to the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) for an injunction(or something so), if TTFA continues to block them.

[Flex]

CFA and Super League clubs: Is TTFA trying to develop football or kill it?
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).

Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams and his board of directors face more accusations of operating in poor faith and being a law unto itself, as the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) and the Central Football Association (CFA) have complained of being snubbed by local football’s governing body.

For close to year, CFA general secretary Clynt Taylor tried unsuccessfully to replace his zone’s representative, Samuel Saunders, on the TTFA’s board of directors—a straightforward procedure according to the constitution.

While, for the fledgling Super League, it is going on four months that its 24 prospective clubs—all already TTFA affiliates—have petitioned the local football body for formal recognition. Without that endorsement, the League and everyone associated with it would be open to sanctions from FIFA.

TTSL interim president Keith Look Loy claimed the TTFA is attempting to hoodwink the public into believing that the delays are down to “process and constitutional requirements.” He suggested otherwise.

“Since January 2017, TTSL has submitted every documentation requested by TTFA,” Look Loy told Wired868. “We have satisfied every requirement of the TTFA Constitution and the laws of Trinidad and Tobago. The delay in the approval of TTSL’s membership not procedural. It is the frustration of democracy.

“The collective democratic will and right of TTSL’s twenty-two members to form their own league is being frustrated by a very small group of people at the top of the TTFA hierarchy for their own reasons.”

The National Super League was formed in 2003 and was the brainchild of All Sports Promotions director Anthony Harford. However, the competition—which was meant to be a bridge between zonal competition and the Pro League—always belonged to the TTFA and was merely run by All Sports.

The seed for the eventual breakaway of the TTSL was planted in 2015, as the local football body approved a new constitution.

“When FIFA came in 2015 and went through the whole constitutional exercise with [then TTFA president Raymond] Tim Kee, they mandated the TTFA to form a proper league with the Super League clubs,” said Look Loy, “because the Super League is really a competition and not a league. FIFA brought that to us.

“Then in November 2016, [current TTFA vice-president] Ewing Davis introduced the issue of restructuring the league and we took that bit between our teeth and ran with it.”

Look Loy tried to explain the difference between a competition and league and why the clubs felt compelled to act.

“A competition is something that we fully understood that the TTFA could decide to play or not to play [on any given year],” said Look Loy. “Last year, somebody in a bathroom decided not to hold the FA Cup and they simply didn’t. That was never explained to us.

“Similarly, they never held the Champions of Champions Cup [for zonal teams]. And they could simply decide not to have a Super League this year and we would be forced to take a year off.

“So, based on the FIFA mandate and our precarious position as a competition, we decided we would get together and form ourselves as a league.”

The fact that All Sports Promotions had a one-year contract from the TTFA which ended on 13 December 2016 and was up for review, rather than guaranteed automatic renewal, did nothing to soothe the anxiety of the clubs.

On 13 December, 13 clubs decided to take fate into their own hands and the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) was formally created. The number of stakeholder clubs has almost doubled since.

The League intends to kick off its inaugural season on Sunday 11 June 2017 and, last month, unveiled a two year sponsorship deal with global sporting company, Umbro.

Harford, who had some health issues in 2016, said the departure of key All Sports employee, Richard Piper, to the TTFA would have left his company needing to source new administrative talent to run the competition anyway. He said he “gracefully accepted” the parting of ways from the competition he founded.

“If I am completely honest, after doing it for 14 years I am ready to give it up anyway,” said Harford. “For me, there is absolutely no issue or problem. It is just that it has evolved.”

The TTFA has not been as warm to the fledgling body so far.

After a heated meeting between the two parties last month, TTFA general secretary Justin Latapy-George issued a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 13 March, which drew up the criteria under which the football body would allow the TTSL to operate.

Latapy-George described the TTSL as: “the entity applying for permission to administer the National Super League.”

Look Loy said he and his clubs rejected any notion that the Super League clubs were applying to run a TTFA competition. And, remarkably, the TTFA intended to charge the clubs for the right to their own competition which would remain wholly owned by the local football body.

Look Loy insisted that the TTSL wanted to be an autonomous body operating under the TTFA’s umbrella, just like the Pro League. It intended to accept nothing less than that.

Thus far, no motive has been advanced by either side to explain the TTFA’s supposedly adversarial approach.

At present, the TTFA’s constitution assures the National Super League of eight from 49 voting delegates at its elections or 16 percent of the local football electorate. It is two less than the 10 delegates afforded to the 10-club Pro League.

Should the Super League teams retain this political bargaining chip, it will remain the second largest voting bloc in local football and could be viewed as a potential headache for an incumbent TTFA president.

Also, the TTSL’s commercial gains could be viewed as a threat to the Pro League in a sport industry often starved of resources. While the Pro League’s 10 clubs play most of their games at four or five venues—all in Trinidad—and often to paltry audiences, the Super League’s 24 clubs are spread across nearly two dozen venues in the country including four in Tobago.

Guayaguayare-based club, Guaya United, has a support base which dwarfs that of most Pro League teams while Siparia United, Petrotrin Palo Seco, Matura United, Bethel United and champions FC Santa Rosa also boasted of getting hundreds of fans out for important match-ups.

John-Williams is the owner of Pro League club, W Connection, which is being run by his daughter, Renee John-Williams, in his absence. Losing a grip on the TTSL could feasibly have implications for the Pro League down the line, particularly as the top flight competition depends heavily on a government subvention that has become unreliable in recent years.

There is a similar suspicion that it suits the John-Williams-led TTFA board to ignore the CFA’s attempts to replace Saunders as its representative on local football’s decision making body.

Saunders was appointed to the TTFA board in 2015 by the CFA executive led by then president Bryan Layne, who subsequently left office in a matter of weeks. But, according to Taylor, Saunders showed no interest in dealing with the newly elected zonal executive.

“We came into office in 2015 and there was no intention then to move Saunders,” Taylor told Wired868. “But we kept sending him messages to meet with us, to join us at various events and to report back to us after board meetings. And he has never once even acknowledged our messages…

“In fact, he has never responded to us until after we voted to remove him. He has never showed that he wants to work with us. And someone told us that his position is when he is on the [TTFA] board, he is there to represent the board and not the CFA.”

The CFA wrote to the TTFA in June 2016 and informed the local football body that it wanted to replace Saunders as its representative on the board of directors.

By then, Saunders, who is an attorney, had already emerged as a key ally for the John-Williams-led administration.

Just days after John-Williams took office on 29 November 2015, Saunders was the only person outside of the new president’s slate who was appointed to a committee meant to stave off potential strike action by the Soca Warriors.

Saunders has since become a go-to-guy for the TTFA’s sticky legal situations. When the National Futsal Team threatened legal action against the local football, Saunders was put on a committee to liaise with them. And, ironically, he is also on the committee entrusted with handling the TTSL’s petition for recognition from the TTFA.

Taylor claimed that the CFA’s letters to the TTFA were either ignored or, when John-Williams did respond, responses were not copied to the Central zone and he had to rely on other members to forward them to him.

“They have not responded to us officially since June last year,” said Taylor. “Everything we hear was sent via a third party and not sent directly to us… The only thing that would happen is [former TTFA general secretary] Azaad [Khan] would acknowledge our letter and [current general secretary] Justin Latapy-George would acknowledge it. But beyond that there is nothing.”

On 13 March 2013, the frustrated CFA general secretary informed the TTFA president that he had received support for an Extraordinary General Meeting from the required 51 percent of delegates, so as to regain his body’s voice on the board.

The TTSL was named among the CFA’s backers and their quest for formal recognition is also scheduled for discussion at the EGM. However, Taylor said a source tipped him off that John-Williams allegedly intended to ignore the letter on the grounds that the TTSL was not recognised by the TTFA,

Taylor responded by having each of the TTSL’s member clubs write in to pledge their individual support.

Look Loy reiterated the TTSL’s support for the Central zone.

“More than half of TTFA members, the constitutional requirement, have called on the TTFA to call the meeting,” said Look Loy. “It is important to note here that three regional associations with representation on the TTFA board have supported the CFA petition. The fact that they should do so is a clear indication that there is dissatisfaction with the board’s handling of these two matters.”

Taylor said he was unhappy to deal with this issue in public but felt the TTFA board left him with no choice.

“We don’t like it because it is not good for football and it is not good for the image of the TTFA when one of your regional members is fighting with you,” Taylor told Wired868. “We were trying to do it quietly but, seeing as how we were being ignored, we had to involve the media. None of us were happy about having to use this means to get a representative on the board like everyone else.

“If we had a choice we wouldn’t do this but what else can we do?”

Look Loy urged John-Williams and his fellow board members to carefully consider their role in local football as they go about their duties.

“The TTFA must decide if its mandate is to develop football or to kill it,” said Look Loy. “If we are not granted approval urgently, 22 of the country’s top clubs will be forced to forget football for 2017. TTSL is of the view that what applies for the TT Pro League should be good enough to apply to the TT Super League. If their 10 club league is recognised, so too should our 24 club league be.

“We want the MOU to be signed urgently so we could proceed with our business, as our operations are being stymied by the lack of official TTFA membership.”

Harford said he is confused by the TTFA’s position.

“I don’t think the TTFA has a choice,” said Harford. “I think they do have to accept the Super League and they should accept the Super League. They cannot afford to let 23 or 24 clubs not play football. That is nonsense.”

The question is when will the TTFA accept the new body.

Wired868 asked John-Williams for the TTFA’s position on the petitions from the Super League clubs and the Central FA and a date for the proposed AGM.

John-Williams, who is believed to be in Guyana with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, did not respond up until the time of publication.

The current TTFA board of directors comprises: David John-Williams (president), Joanne Salazar, Ewing Davis and Allan Warner (vice-presidents), Samuel Saunders (Central FA), Sherwyn Dyer (Eastern Counties Football Union), Karanjabari Williams (Northern FA), Richard Quan Chan (Southern FA), Anthony Moore (Tobago FA), Joseph Taylor (Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association), Sharon O’Brien (Women’s League Football), Wayne Cunningham (Eastern FA) and Sheldon Phillip (TT Pro League).

[Deeks]

After readin the first two paragraphs I got depressed. I read no  more.

[Flex]

Green light for TTSL as TTFA recognises new league; Look Loy seeking local sponsor.
By Sean Taylor (Wired868).

All systems are now go for the new Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL), which is carded to kick off on 11 June 2017. The highest hurdle standing in their way was cleared on Wednesday evening when they finally got the long awaited ratification by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) after a brief 15-minute meeting involving TTSL representatives and TTFA President David John-Williams.

“We had a meeting last evening at the Cycling Centre in Couva between the TTFA board and the clubs of the Super League,” TTSL interim president Keith Look Loy told Wired868. “Of the 22 clubs, there were 19 in attendance [and] John-Williams will have to put it in writing by Monday before he and [TTFA general secretary Justin] Latapy-George go to the FIFA Congress in Bahrain.”

“It” is confirmation of the TTFA’s ratification decision and Look Loy is optimistic that official word from the TTFA will come as early as next week.

Although he seemed generally satisfied with the way the discussions had gone, John-Williams was neither willing to divulge the details of the meeting nor to give any commitment to a timeline.

“All I can tell you,” he said, “is that we had a very cordial meeting, a very positive meeting. Everything is fine so far as I’m concerned.”

Look Loy provided a little more detail.

“Essentially,” he explained, “the TTFA—although they have to put it in writing—by the agreement of the chairman David John-Williams […] have agreed that we (the TTSL) will enjoy what is the same status as the TT Pro League.

“We will be an autonomous group so what we wanted we have achieved after four months of unnecessary strife and uncertainty.”

The toing and froing between the two parties started at the beginning of the year when the TTSL submitted a formal request for membership to the TTFA.

The umbrella body demanded that the applicants submit a stack of documents, including company by-laws, a copy of the League’s constitution and documentation associated with the formation and registration of the company, which has 22 shareholders.

According to Keith Look Loy, who also manages FC Santa Rosa, the TTSL provided all requested documentation and submitted a formal request for TTFA recognition on 8 January. It took 46 days for the governing body to acknowledge receipt of the application, which occurred on February 23.

By the time the league was publicly launched in March, the TTSL organisers had not yet got word from the TTFA on the status of their membership application.

In the month that followed, John-Williams and Latapy-George found themselves embroiled in a constitutional standoff with not just Look Loy but Central FA president Shymdeo Gosein, which kept hundreds of players, coaching staff and officials uncertain and uneasy about whether they would be playing Super League football in the 2017/2018 season.

Look Loy expressed satisfaction with the eventual resolution but he remains wary that, despite the administrative victory, funding for the league is not yet forthcoming and continues to be an issue. The TTSL have already sealed a $100,000-plus equipment deal with sports apparel giants Umbro but the interim president lamented that the local corporate sector seems completely uninterested in supporting the new league.

“We have one sponsor,” he revealed, saying that details of the deal will be disclosed in the near future, “and this is not a Trinidad and Tobago company [but] a company out of Canada.”

“The local business sector has shown no interest in sponsoring the Super League,” he continued, “[but] a Canadian company [has] agreed to sponsor our League Cup. We’re hoping therefore that we’ll be able to find a local corporate entity to become the title sponsor of our league.”

“The issue of national integration, of a national league, of maintaining the presence of Tobago communities in the Trinidad and Tobago Super League,” the interim president stressed, “one of them is the Bethel Community—they won the knockout last year—is of primary importance to us. But so far we have been unable to convince the corporate sector or the state that this is important.”

But Look Loy has not thrown in the towel. He intends to meet with Sport Minister Darryl Smith next week with a view to getting him to agree to provide TT$400,000 to the League.

“Our budget is based entirely on income from membership fees,” he explained. “What we have done is that we have cut the suit to fit the cloth and we have trimmed it down to make sure that when we run this inaugural season, based on fees alone we would not be operating in debt.

“The biggest chunk in our expenditure is travel between the two islands for the 22 teams that will constitute the two leagues.”

The requested government subvention will cover the hefty price tag for travel between the two islands.

“That is going to cost us $420,000, which is a big chunk out of our budget,” said Look Loy. “We have been trying to talk to the Ministry of Sport about that. For the 15 years of the National Super League, the State in one form or fashion—whether the Ministry of Sport or the Sport Company or Caribbean Airlines—covered the cost of that travel.

“We have not been able to convince the Ministry of Sport or Caribbean Airlines to do that or even to subsidise it. When we sent in our fixtures to Caribbean Airlines to try and immediately start booking spaces, they told us they want money up front.

“If we could get that taken care of, we would be very happy with that because then we can have some money from internal sources to pay prize money.”

He also took time out to expand on the significance of the community-based league and knockout competition in the local footballing sphere.

“We would go on to continue organising ourselves and playing football,” he told Wired868. “We didn’t sit down waiting on this to arrive. We have been going about planning our business so we have all our fixtures, people checking the venues and everything is proceeding to kick off with the first league on the 11th of June and the second league on the 24th of June.

“I’ve always said that this is the most important development in Trinidad and Tobago football in the 21st century [and] the only progressive move we have seen in terms of the organising of football and the administration of football.

“In the end, we have achieved what we wanted to achieve and that is all that matters.”

[Sam]

Look Loy feel DJW and Justin Latapy going to the FIFA Congress in Bahrain anytime soon.... 

I respect Look Loy for wanting to run de league eh, but he cant create a league and he didn't have money in de first place.

He in football a long time now and know de local companies dont support football.

Acquire de money first and then plan league, so if they eh get no money, all this planning going up in smoke.

De MoS Darryl Smith and DJW is personal friends, you feel Smith giving any money?

Look Loy should contact Rowley and THA and tell them how Tobago football is dead without de TTSL because odda than that, no teams from Tobago play in de pro league.

This is a good exposure for them.

Teams in de TTSL will play vs de pro league teams in de FA cup competition to.

[Tallman]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/a7Knkxa61k4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/a7Knkxa61k4</a>

[Flex]

Caribbean Football Trust inject $550,000 to Super League.
By Jelani Beckles (Newsday).

FORMER national footballer and chairman of the Caribbean Football Trust Limited (CFTL), Chris Anderson, wants to help improve the standard of local football by giving more than half a million dollars to the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL), for the forthcoming season.

The CFTL will give $200,000 to the League Cup starting in September, which will involve all 20 teams in the Super League. A further $350,000 will be handed over to the Power Eight tournament kicking off in January 2018, a post-season tournament featuring the top eight teams in the Super League First Division.

Speaking at a media conference at the former Trinidad and Tobago Football Association office at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo yesterday, Anderson said his passion for T&T football has not wavered and he wants to help with the growth of the sport.

“As a former Trinidad and Tobago player, my passion is always for Trinidad and Tobago football,” stated Anderson. “For the past 15 to 20 years I have seen our football decline in a way where it is totally dilapidated.

“When I saw Mr Look Loy, with the passion and the commitment to implement such an independent operation, I felt it was my duty to intervene and I made the first call to him and offered my assistance.” Anderson said the agreement between the CFTL and the TTSL can be the start of a long relationship between the two organisations.

“This is the beginning.

I anticipate that we will venture into greater things as we go along. I could see our company committing to bigger cash amounts to help elevate this Super League to the next level which I envision.” Keith Look Loy, interim president of the TTSL, was elated with the new partnership. Look Loy said, “We are very, very happy that Caribbean Football Trust has come on board. This is not only a vote of confidence, but it gives incentives to the clubs and to the players.

There is prize money to be played for, and it gives us creditability that an international sponsor recognises what we are trying to do.” Look Loy says the gap between the TT Pro League and the TTSL is small, and believes the Power Eight tournament will be of a high standard.

“This is going to be a good tournament. The top eight clubs in the Super League, it is going to be a high level tournament.

“The gap that is supposed to exist between Pro League clubs as the top tier of local football and Super League clubs as the second tier of local football is increasingly becoming imaginary. I believe that the top clubs in the Super League could match any club in the TT Pro League,” Look Loy ended.

RELATED NEWS

CFTL pumps $550,000 into TTSL.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).

The new T&T Super League kicks off on Sunday and the Caribbean Football Trust Limited (CFTL), an international football group being chaired by Chris Anderson, has agreed to fund the T&TSL’s League Cup and a Power Eight tournament to the tune of $550,000.

Yesterday, interim president Keith Look Loy said the CFTL Group has agreed to pump a whopping $200,000 into the League Cup competition which will go toward prize monies and will also donate another $350,000 Power Eight tournament. That amount will go towards prize monies, marketing and administration. However the TTSL is still to get an overall sponsor of the league.

Look Loy, the president of last year’s Premier Division champion team FC Santa Rosa said they are on the search for a title sponsor and calls on government or corporate T&T to come on board. The TTSL has already committed itself to covering inter-island funding to the tune of $500,000.

The league will be played in two divisions as it did in previous years, but it will be called League 1 and League 2 instead of Championship and Premier Divisions. It gets going on Sunday with defending Premier Division champion FC Santa Rosa taking on Cunupia FC at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar Arima from 3:30pm. The game will be one of six scheduled to be played on the the opening round at different venues across T&T.

Apart from that match, Defence Force the dethrone champions will have a date with Siparia Spurs at the Hasely Crawford Stadium frtom 6pm and Guaya United will take on Club Sando Moruga from 4:30pm at the Guayaguarare Recreation Ground.

In other games Bethel United will come up against Queen’s Park at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground and 1976 Phoenix FC will take on Police at the Canaan Bon Accord Recreation Ground. UTT will complete the day’s fixtures with a clash against WASA FC at O’Meara Campus Ground from 6pm.

[Mose]

Good news all round. Congrats to Look Loy and company!

[Sam]

Keeping track of sponsors for de TTSL so far under Look Loy.

$550,000 TT from CFTL.
$25,000 US from TTFA.
Free Office at Ato Boldon Stadium.
Umbro $100,000-plus equipment deal.
Teams entry fee? I am sure its not totally free.

[Tallman]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/FSip4OrUfjg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/FSip4OrUfjg</a>

[Flex]

Champs Santa Rosa start with win.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).

Super League champs FC Santa Rosa got their 2017 campaign going with a victory over Cunupia FC 2-1 on Sunday at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima, but will give way to 2015 winners Defence Force and Guaya United for the top on the standings to date in League 1, though it’s still early days.

Santa Rosa, coached by former national coach Keith Look Loy, took the lead after just five minutes when Kieron Charles fired into the back of the net for the early advantage.

But the men from Central Trinidad got the equaliser when the multi-talented Gorean Highley found the net in the 83rd minute. The celebrations were hardly finished when Santa Rosa stole the win when striker Nathan Julien scored in the 83rd minute to hand his team maximum points.

At the Guayaguayare Recreation Ground the home team sent an early warning to their counterparts by whipping Club Sando Moruga 3-1 and take the top spot on the table along with the Army Coast-Guard combination with a better goal difference to Santa Rosa and the University of T&T, courtesy a double strike by Glenton Wolfe.

However it was the visitors who took the lead through Morgan in the 27th minute which they enjoyed until the interval. Afterwards the Guaya men fired in three unanswered goals for the win.

The Army outfit also clobbered Siparia Spurs 3-1 at the Hasely Crawford Training Field from a brace from Tirek George in the 38th and 40th and another goal by his name-sake Jaamal George in the 23rd. The Spurs lone strike came from the boot of Andy London in the 68th minute.

In other games UTT got goals from Kevaughn Connell in the 13th and 31st to edge WASA 2-1 and Bethel pipped Queen’s Park CC 1-0 from Denyse James goal in the 29th minute.

RELATED NEWS

Santa Rosa edge Cunupia in Super League opener.
T&T Newsday Reports.

FC SANTA Rosa kicked off their defence of the Super League title on Sunday with a narrow 2-1 win over Cunupia FC, on the opening day of the 2017 season.

This was a meeting of the 2016 Premiership winners (Santa Rosa) against the 2016 Championship winners (Cunupia).

Santa Rosa got full points in this encounter at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima, courtesy of goals from Keron Clarke in the fifth minute and Nathan Julien in the 63rd. Gorean Highley got the consolation strike for Cunupia, who wasted several chances, in the 83rd.

Defence Force got a pair of goals from Tirek George as they defeated Siparia Spurs 3-1 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field in Mucurapo.

Jamaal George put Defence Force ahead in the 23rd while Tirek George notched a pair, in the 38th and 40th. Andy London pulled one back for Siparia in the 68th but Defence Force held on for the win.

There was another 3-1 result, in favour of Guaya FC over Club Sando Moruga, at the Guayaguayare Recreation Ground.

Kyle Morgan gave Club Sando Moruga a 27th minute lead, before Carlon Hughes equalised in the 64th.

Defender Glenton Wolfe, who joined Guaya from North East Stars during the off-season, converted two penalties, in the 77th and 89th.

Densyl James scored in the 29th as Bethel United edged Queen’s Park 1-0 at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground while UTT edged WASA 2-1 at the O’Meara Campus Ground in Arima.

Kevaughn Connell netted twice for the hosts, in the 13th and 31st, while Kylon Gay (21st) replied for WASA.

And, at the Canaan/Bon Accord Recreation Ground, 1976 FC Phoenix battled to a 1-1 draw with Police. Che Richards scored for Phoenix in the 73rd but Real Dedier tied the scores three minutes later.

Round Two action is expected to be staged on June 18.

[Flex]

Super League launches website.
T&T Express Reports.

The Trinidad and Tobago Super League has launched its new website — ttsuperleague.com — which will provide viewers with up-to-date information and stats, exclusive TTSL content and live score updates on match days.

The TTSL will also be unveiling new features of the website throughout the season that will provide supporters with the best online fan experience, centred around the league motto of “Clubs. Communities, Country.”

Meanwhile, action in the TTSL Premier Division continues today with a full round of six matches, including an intriguing clash between last season’s TTFA-run National Super League champions FC Santa Rosa and Tobago‘s Bethel United, both of which won on the opening day. Another interesting clash will be at St. Joseph where WASA will host Cunupia FC.

[amielisadore]

Guaya solidifies top spot in TTSL.
ttsuperleague.com.

Guaya United continued their fine form in Round Two of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) by claiming a 4-2 win over Siparia Spurs.

The “Green Army” raced to a 2-0 lead at half time through goals from Kendes Garcia and Kevin Jagdeosingh, who were both making their first appearances for the season. Jagdeosingh added his second, early in the second half before Carlon “Judgement” Hughes scored to make it two goals in two games for the Guaya marksman.

Dwayne Edwards scored late on for the home team, but similar to Andy London’s goal in the 52nd minute, it came as merely a consolation.

At St James Barracks, Defence Force TTSL FC ensured that they kept on the heels of Guaya United, by sauntering to a 2-0 over Police FC in the “servicemen” derby. Josimar Belgrave showed how lethal he can be in dead ball situations as he bent in a free kick in the first half, before rounding off the win with a penalty in the 73rd minute.

QPCC recovered from their opening round loss, by condemning Club Sando Moruga to a consecutive defeat at St Anthony’s College Grounds. Forward Kevaughn John bagged a brace for the Parkities and was ably assisted by the evergreen Devon Modeste who proved to be a thorn in Moruga’s side throughout the match.

Cunupia FC also bounced back to beat WASA FC by a solitary goal. Michael Darko scored in the 30th minute and the “Predators” were able to hold onto the win with Tevin Mungo proving to be especially resolute in the Cunupia defence.

FC Santa Rosa made a triumphant debut at the Arima Velodrome with a 2-0 win over visiting Bethel United FC. Santa Rosa captain Keron Clarke was chief destroyer with a goal and an assist at the Arima venue, while Rashad Griffith, the team’s top scorer from last season, also got on the score sheet for the “Big Cannons” as a second half substitute. Teenage attacker Saleem Henry, also displayed his burgeoning talent with another impressive display in Santa Rosa colours.

In the late kick off, Isaiah Mejias scored a double but it was Theon James who was the star of the show for UTT as they dismantled 1976 Phoenix FC 4-2 at O’meara Campus. Midfielder James, was creative and incisive as he set up goals for Mejias and Dillon Bartholomew while also being rewarded with a goal of his own in the 55th minute via an assist from J’Deem Parris.

TTSL continues on Sunday 25 June with Round Three action.

Santa Rosa blank Bethel in Velodrome; Makan wants more Tobagonians on Soca Warriors.
By R.Walcott (Wired868).

Defending champions FC Santa Rosa notched their second straight win of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) season as they defeated Tobago’s Bethel United by a 2-0 margin before an appreciative crowd at the Arima Velodrome yesterday.

Great efforts have been made by Super League holders Santa Rosa and TT Pro League club North East Stars to return football to the famed Velodrome. And it was only Friday evening that the Velodrome was deemed unsatisfactory to host a Pro League match between home team Stars and three-time defending Pro League victors Central FC, after the visitors complained about the lighting and the field markings at the venue prior to kick off.

Yesterday however, without any adjustments to the field markings, Rosa and Bethel’s 4pm duel went off without a hitch.

Despite being defending champions, the “Big Cannons” would not have expected a cakewalk against Bethel, who dumped Rosa out of the Super League knockout competition last season en route to clinching the knockout crowns themselves.

The visitors, aided by the giant presence of former Trinidad and Tobago national youth and senior team defender Makan Hislop, gave a fairly decent showing in the first half as they tested the Santa Rosa defence with a barrage of long balls. However, the Tobagonians were less threatening in the second half once the hosts took away their ‘route one’ access.

According to Santa Rosa coach Keith Look Loy, things aligned perfectly with the playbook.

“For the entire match they played with three central defenders and in the first half I thought [we would allow them to play the long balls],” Look Loy told Wired868. “What we didn’t want in the second half was for them to play long balls with the wind and with the slope. So I asked our forwards to press in on their centre backs and we significantly reduced the long balls they were playing.”

Rosa did not have it all their own way in Arima yesterday though, as Bethel’s Akiel Holdford fashioned a couple decent chances in the first half and was generally one of the brighter sparks for the visitors on a bleak afternoon.

Holdford, who turned out for Signal Hill in the 2016 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) alongside three of his Bethel teammates, nearly squeezed his team into the lead in the fourth minute when he tried to punish stranded Rosa goalkeeper Kitwanna Manning.

Thankfully for Manning, defender Marc Leslie was there to clean up the mess. Just two minutes later, Holdford again prompted concerns for Manning as the attacker struck a meaty volley just over bar following a miscued clearance by Leslie’s central defensive partner, Alfie James.

The enthusiastic Holdford deserved an ‘A’ for effort yesterday, and his ‘spanner’ on Rosa’s Durwin Ross on the near sideline would have taken him to the top of the class if not for a typically tigerish tackle by the recovering Vincentian.

Ross, who rarely shows up on the stat sheet, was voted Rosa’s MVP last season for his combative midfield play. And yesterday he reminded Holdford that he was not the easiest player to get around.

While Holdford and his teammates were trying to shrug off the likes of Ross on one end, Santa Rosa attackers Mikheil Peters and Keron Clarke were doing their best to run the Bethel defenders ragged at the other.

Peters, a much sought after attacker in the Super League, got himself into dangerous positions down Rosa’s right in the first half and twice forced goalkeeper Joel Sampson into sharp saves.

In the 13th minute, Peters brought the Velodrome to life as he spanked a right-footed effort on frame. Meanwhile, the bustling forward saw his powerful close range shot turned back by Sampson near the half hour mark after working a neat exchange with substitute Jesse Rampersad.

Cracks were beginning to show on the left side of the Bethel defence and the hosts were determined to exploit that leak. Clarke and right-back Joel Duffal both had near misses during flowing moves while Peters was denied by a last-gasp tackle by Bethel’s Oral Williams in the 41st minute.

Rosa broke the deadlock from the resulting corner kick though, as Clarke headed a teasing Saleem Henry cross past Sampson for the opener.

The Big Cannons conceded the fewest goals in the Super League’s top flight last season and Bethel surely knew that mustering a comeback on enemy territory would be an uphill task.

“Our philosophy is if we get the first goal in a match, chances are the opposition has lost because we are going to defend well,” Look Loy told Wired868. “If we get the first goal we figure we are halfway home.”

With such a miserly defence, it must be some luxury to be able to call on your top scorer from among the substitutes.

Rosa’s Rashad Griffith, who scored 19 goals last season, was summoned from the bench on the hour mark and it took the speedy forward all of five minutes to get on the score sheet, as he finished neatly from close range after an unselfish pass from Clarke.

The goal was not without controversy as Griffith appeared to get away with a foul, midway in the Bethel half of the field, during the buildup, only for referee Rashby McPhie to wave play on.

On the face of it, Griffith’s item was an insurance policy. But Manning might tell you it was wholly unnecessary as his goalmouth saw very little action in the second half.

In the game’s aftermath, Hislop put his team’s defeat down to inexperience and a lack of composure in the final third, as he felt his teammates did not capitalise when they got into promising positions.

Truthfully speaking, Bethel coach Urington Samuel may have to reserve more time for crossing  practice in his upcoming sessions as his players sent at least five crosses—including a corner—behind Manning’s goal.

Hislop, who spoke at length about the development of Tobago’s young players, strongly believes that the sister isle needs some method of standardisation to better integrate its players into the national team pool.

“Tobago has always been blessed with raw talent. In my time playing in the professional league in Trinidad, every single team had a Tobagonian player on it as a standout,” Hislop told Wired868. “And I’ve always had a big grudge against that because the opportunity for Tobagonians to do something on a national scale is so hard.

“For them to do anything they have to come to Trinidad. And that’s a big step when you take in travel, accommodation and meals. Meanwhile, a Trinidadian just has to go on the Bus Route and he is in training.

“I would really like to see a standard, whereby every year I could say for sure that ten or even five Tobagonians will have a look in on the national team… When you have screenings in Trinidad you hear about 40 Trinidadians and three Tobagonians. The odds are heavily stacked against a Tobagonian excelling and, because of that [and] the psychology of a young person, they don’t see a professional contract in Trinidad being a reality to them.”

Bethel would hope to give a better example of what Trinidad football fans are missing out on next Sunday when they host WASA FC from 6pm at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground. Meanwhile Santa Rosa will attempt to maintain their 100 percent record away to QPCC from 4pm at the St Mary’s College Grounds on Serpentine Road, St Clair.

(Teams)

FC Santa Rosa (4-2-3-1): 22.Kitwana Manning (GK); 3.Joel Duffal, 5.Alfie James, 23.Marc Leslie, 2.Quilon Dick; 21.Durwin Ross, 20.Jesse Reyes; 12.Mikheil Peters (27.Kevon Cornwall 68), 10.Keston Jones (26.Jesse Rampersad 23), 14.Saleem Henry (7.Rashad Griffith 60); 11.Keron Clarke (captain).

Unused Substitutes: 1.Tevin Boswell (GK), 6.Ricardo Cornwall, 17.Brian Sequea, 25.Deon Capriata.

Coach: Keith Look Loy

Bethel United (3-4-2-1): 1.Joel Sampson (GK); 18.Makan Hislop, 3.Oral Williams, 5.Shaquiele Gardiner; 4.Daniel Craig, 12.Oshan Geogre, 10.Rohan Sebro (captain), 9.Teejay Cadiz; 26.Jalanie James, 28.Akiel Holdford; 11.Densyl James.

Unused Substitutes: 13.Azimodeen Leith, 21.Terelle Collins, 22.Chevi Mcmillan, 23.Kenneil Roberts.

Coach: Urington Samuel

Referee: Rashby McPhie

Wired868 Man of the Match: Keron Clarke (Santa Rosa)

TTSL One Results

(Sunday 18 June)

QPCC 2 (Kevaughn John 59, 75), Club Sando Moruga 0 at QRC Grounds;

Siparia Spurs 2 (Andy London 52, Dwayne Edwards 89), Guaya United 4 (Kendes Garcia 10, Kevin Jagdeosingh 40, 59, Carlon Hughes 63) at Fyzabad Petrotrin Sports Club Ground;

FC Santa Rosa 2 (Keron Clarke 42, Rashad Griffith 65), Bethel United 0 at Arima Velodrome;

Police FC 0, Defence Force 2 (Josimar Belgrave 15, 73) at St James Barracks (Inside field);

WASA FC 0, Cunupia FC 1 (Michael Darko 30) at WASA, St Joseph;

UTT 4 (Isaiah Mejias 31 [p], 34, Theon James 55, Dillon Bartholomew 85), 1976 Phoenix FC 2 (Jabarry Francis 18, Dominique 46) at UTT, O’Meara;

Upcoming TTSL Fixtures

(Sunday 25 June)

Club Sando Moruga vs Siparia Spurs, Grand Chemin Recreation Ground, Moruga, 4pm;

QPCC vs FC Santa Rosa, St Mary’s College Grounds, 4pm;

Guaya United vs Police FC, Guayaguayare Recreation Ground, 4.30pm;

Bethel United vs WASA FC, Mt Gomery Recreation Ground, 6.30pm;

Defence Force vs UTT, Defence Force Sports Field, Chaguaramas, 4pm;

Cunupia FC vs 1976 Phoenix FC, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 3.30pm.

[amielisadore]

OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER WITH THE TT SUPER LEAGUE

Are you a sports enthusiast? A die-hard football fan? Well, this is your chance to get your head in the game.

SPORT LOVERS are invited to volunteer AND support the DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SUPER LEAGUE.

There are currently twenty-four (24) COMMUNITY FOOTBALL clubs; from all corners of TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO  in OUR league, providing inspiration for our motto “Clubs, Communities, Country.”

Volunteers are THE BACK BONE of sport and community LIFE. TTSL OFFERS all interested persons a bold and exciting opportunity to provide expertise IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:  Administration, multimedia support, event operations, communications and public relations, AND MORE.

http://ttsuperleague.com/opportunity-volunteer-tt-super-league/

[Flex]

TTSL promise to bring Ronaldinho and Rivaldo to Trinidad; awaiting TTFA approval.
By R.Walcott (Wired868).

Did somebody say Samba?

The fledgling Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) is anxiously waiting for the chance to pull off a coup with former Brazil World Cup winners Ronaldinho and Rivaldo and Italy champions Luca Toni supposedly waiting for the green light to come to Port of Spain.

The three are among a host of famous names who are scheduled to visit Trinidad in October for a gala football match against an local TTSL All-Star team.

Interim TTSL president Keith Look Loy said the affair was the brainchild of Caribbean Football Trust Limited (CFTL) chairman Chris Anderson. CFTL has already pledged TT$550,000 towards two cup competitions for the TTSL’s maiden domestic season, which kicked off earlier this month.

The exhibition match should not only be a treat for local football fans but would allow TTSL stand-outs like Rashad Griffith, Makan Hislop, Josimar Belgrave and Carlon “Judgment” Hughes to face the aforementioned trio as well as former France internationals Florent Malouda and Djibril Cissé in a ‘Rest of the World XI’.

The star attraction, undoubtedly, would be Ronaldinho, a two-time FIFA World Player of the Year, and Champions League winner with Barcelona. Look Loy said local organisers altered the proposed 16 September date for the game to accommodate the 37-year-old Brazilian who is due to participate in a Futsal league in early September.

However, what the TTSL and CFTL have not counted on is the slow pace of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), which must sanction the venture.

“I wrote a letter to the TTFA requesting permission for an international match,” Look Loy told Wired868. “I’m awaiting a response from the TTFA. They say they are going to respond. We have already applied for the use of the Hasely Crawford Stadium to host that match.”

TTFA director Sharon O’Brien, who is also the Women’s League Football (WOLF) president, said the David John-Williams-led administration has no problem with the TTSL’s proposed exhibition. However, she maintained that the TTFA wanted to follow the correct procedures before giving the game the green light.

“We want to make sure that we cross our T’s and dot our I’s,” said O’Brien.

O’Brien said the TTFA is currently awaiting word from CONCACAF as to the proper criteria needed for hosting international games of this nature. She said could not give a definitive time frame for CONCACAF’s expected response.

Not for the first time, Look Loy is forced to play the waiting game. Earlier this year, the fledgling league fussed and agitated for months before finally being ratified by the local governing body.

Look Loy hopes the TTFA gets the ball rolling much faster on this occasion, as he wants the TTSL to have ample time to prepare for the star studded affair.

If Look Loy and the TTSL keep good on their promise, then local fans can soon be getting a close view of two of football’s most famous past names in the Samba duo of Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, who helped Brazil lift their last World Cup title in 2002.

And, of course, there is an opportunity for the TTSL players to catch the eye too. Locals will be able to familiarise themselves with the Super League stars sooner rather than later, as Look Loy said an arrangement with Bmobile is virtually in place and will see TTSL teams live streaming their games.

“Within the next two weeks, we are going to be live streaming because we have a discussion with Bmobile this week to finalise an agreement,” Look Loy said. “TTSL is going to be live streaming one game per week but the clubs are also going to live stream their games. Several of the clubs have signed up for that.”

Upcoming TTSL Fixtures

(Sunday 25 June)

Club Sando Moruga vs Siparia Spurs, Grand Chemin Recreation Ground, Moruga, 4pm;

QPCC vs FC Santa Rosa, St Mary’s College Grounds, 4pm;

Guaya United vs Police FC, Guayaguayare Recreation Ground, 4.30pm;

Bethel United vs WASA FC, Mt Gomery Recreation Ground, 6.30pm;

Defence Force vs UTT, Defence Force Sports Field, Chaguaramas, 4pm;

Cunupia FC vs 1976 Phoenix FC, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 3.30pm.

[amielisadore]

TTSL GOAL OF THE WEEK⚽️➡️ Fantastic Acrobatic Volley by Keron Clarke of FC Santa Rosa in the Trinidad and Tobago Super League. Santa Rosa beat Club Sando Moruga 7-0.

https://www.facebook.com/TTSuperLeague/videos/1916584688598487/

[Deeks]

Golaso! aso! aso! aso! aso!

[Flex]

Guaya United maintain spot in Super League,
T&T Newsday Reports.

GUAYA UNITED maintained their hold of the top spot in the Trinidad and Tobago Super League One division, after a 2-1 win over the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) in a Round Four match at the UTT O’Meara campus, Arima, on Sunday.

With the result, Guaya continued their 100-percent start to the season, with a maximum 12 points from four games.

Marcus Ramkalawan put Guaya ahead in the 46th minute before Dillon Bartholomew levelled the scores eight minutes later. But Shaquille Ferrier gave Guaya the lead for good when he struck in the 79th.

Another team with a perfect start to the 2017 edition are FC Santa Rosa, who demolished Club Sando Moruga 7-0 at the Arima Velodrome.

Keron Clarke registered a hattrick, as he struck in the 32nd, 36th and 73rd, while there were one goal apiece from Saleem Henry (26th), Keron Bethelmy (46th), Nathan Julien (47th) and Mikheil Peters (90th).

Cunupia FC earned a hardfought 3-2 win over Defence Force at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima. Josimar Belgrave put the Army-Coast Guard combination ahead in the 10th before Stevon Stoute tied the scores in the 31st.

Belgrave put Defence Force in front for the second time, in the 50th, but that lead lasted only five minutes as Malcolm Stewart made it 2-2.

And Stoute got the winner for Cunupia, in the 64th, as they ended Defence Force’s quest for a fourth straight win.

Police cruised to a 3-0 win over Siparia Spurs at the St James Barracks, courtesy of a pair from Colin Williams (64th and 80th), after the opening item from Anton Hutchinson (58th).

In a clash of Tobago-based teams, 1976 FC Phoenix and Bethel FC battled to a 2-2 draw at the Canaan/Bon Accord Recreation Ground.

Dominique Kerr (eighth) and Jabarry Francis (75th) were the goal-getters for Phoenix, while Terelle Collins (18th) and TeeJay Cadiz (56th) replied for Bethel.

And, at the WASA Ground in St Joseph, WASA and Queen’s Park played to a 1-1 draw, with Glen Walker netting for the hosts in the 56th before Devon Modeste equalised for the Parkites in the 71st.

On Saturday, in the Super League Two, Central 500 Spartans moved up to first place after a narrow 1-0 win over overnight leaders Prisons at the Youth Training Centre (YTC) Ground, Arouca.

Josiah Grazette found the back of the net for Spartans, in the 18th minute.

Petit Valley/Diego Martin United rallied from a goal down to edge Youth Stars 2-1 at the Diego Martin North Secondary School Ground.

Duran Dilworth broke the deadlock for Youth Stars in the 15th before Sydney Charles equalised for the hosts, in the 80th. And, with four minutes of regulation time left, Ishaq Abdullah found the back of the net to guarantee full points for Petit Valley/Diego Martin.

And, at the Frederick Settlement Recreation Ground, Harlem Strikers registered a 3-2 win over Marabella FCC.

Neon O’Garro (fifth), Akil London (54th) and Wendell Archibald (56th) were on target for Harlem Strikers, while Jaycee Paras (10th) and Kendell Mason (86th) responded for Marabella.

RELATED NEWS

WASA waste points in TTSL action as 10-man QPCC snatch draw in St Joseph.
By R.Walcott (Wired868).

WASA FC and Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) both lost the chance to keep up with the top of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) One yesterday after battling to a 1-1 draw at the WASA compound in St Joseph yesterday.

WASA took the lead in the second half through a headed item by striker Glen Walker but 10-man QPCC salvaged a draw when the wily veteran Devon Modeste scored from close range in the 72nd minute.

The result saw WASA slip one place from seventh to eighth in the 12-team standings while QPCC stayed sixth but missed the opportunity to leapfrog UTT to fifth.

Still, QPCC were relieved to salvage even a point after slugging it out with the hosts in very heavy conditions. The “Parkites” nearly went without kicking a ball for the second week running, as a soggy outfield threatened the evening’s proceedings.

The Shurland David-led WASA team were determined to treat their guests to 90 minutes of action though, as players from the home team cleared puddles on the field with buckets in an unusual pre-game ritual.

And WASA were the ones who asserted themselves early on. And, while their initial moves weren’t flowing like tap water, the hosts gave opposing goalkeeper Raheem “Birdie” Belgrave and his defence a lot to think about.

Most of WASA’s first half probing came down the right wing and flanker Kerron St Cyr was never too far from the action. In the 10th minute, Walker hit the underside of the bar after receiving a through pass from St Cyr—God Alone knows how the shot didn’t go in.

Meanwhile, in the 14th minute, QPCC defender Marcus Ashton agonisingly headed a dangerous St Cyr cross over his own bar.

The Parkites clearly weren’t paying particular attention to the gaps down the right flank and the visitors were lucky when defender Phillip Nelson failed to convert with the goal at his mercy from the ensuing set piece.

All along, QPCC’s Kevaughn John and the predatory Modeste were lurking on the opposite end as they tried to keep the WASA backline honest. And a few of the WASA supporters were wary of the visitors’ game plan.

“That’s all [QPCC] playing for inno,” one patron uttered. “They’re just looking for that one counter attack.”

Modeste attempted to show the effectiveness of his team’s tactics in the 22nd minute, as he forced WASA goalkeeper Denzil Carabon into a smart save with a crisp volley.

Belgrave, a former Jabloteh custodian, saw much more action on the opposite end and probably walked with a lucky charm in his back pocket—as some of WASA’s misses were just inexplicable.

In the 31st minute, midfielder Kirth Hutchings screwed his right-footed effort wide of the goal frame after eluding the QPCC defence and rounding Belgrave. Just two minutes later, Walker aimed for the skies as he dreadfully shot over bar from close range after St Cyr put in another useful cross.

In the second half, the flow of the game nearly mirrored that of the first. However, the hosts shifted their attention to the left flank where winger Nkosi David put in a fine display of dribbling and crossing. David was making his TTSL debut for WASA but the neutral would not have figured as much from his assured play.

In the 49th minute, the slender David gave QPCC a glimpse of what was to come as he had Belgrave stretching to the fullest to swat away a dangerous cross. But ‘who don’t hear, does feel’; and QPCC paid the price for their frailty on the flanks when Walker nodded in the opener from close range in the 56th minute after a David cross.

QPCC coach Shawn Cooper was far from impressed.

“Raheem [Belgrave], I tell you if he head from there you can’t save it,” Cooper shouted. “That’s in your six-yard box, come on!”

Cooper decided to spice things up as he inserted the energetic duo of Angel Williams and Jabari Raphael in the 62nd minute. And the visitors almost reaped rewards immediately, as Williams smashed a angled right-footed shot into the side netting in the 65th minute after working a short corner with Raphael.

As if containing WASA’s wing play with 11 men wasn’t challenging enough, the QPCC task got much tougher in the 70th minute when defender Chad De Freitas was shown a red card for dissent after committing a foul on David.

Maybe QPCC needed the challenge though, as Modeste headed in, just two minutes later, after John was denied from point blank range by Carabon. Modeste, who got a few mud baths for his troubles yesterday, embraced the ejected De Freitas to celebrate his team’s leveller.

“Be positive guys we will get one,” WASA coach David told his charges.

The hosts came close to a winner in the latter stages of the match, as David whipped a left-footed free kick agonisingly wide in the 79th minute while, moments later, defender Akil Harley sent a cheeky effort just wide moments later.

Although QPCC were doing more than just hanging on for a draw though, as John forced Carabon into a sharp save at his near post in the 83rd minute after meeting a left side cross from Raphael.

In the end, the Parkites were pleased to come out with a point.

“It’s very difficult to be a man down and playing away from home in these conditions,” Cooper told Wired868. “And we ended up getting a point in the end. I think this is [like] three points for us…

“WASA are at home and I think they adapted to the conditions a lot better than us. They did not seize the moments they had in terms of converting the chances they had. And this is what football is about.”

David, a former Trinidad and Tobago international, admitted that his team was wasteful in front of goal but was still pleased with their performance.

“All we need to do is to continue playing positive and we will get where we want to reach at the end of the season,” David said. “We aim for the sky. We want to win [the league]. If we don’t win we have to fall at number two; it’s as basic as that.

“All in all, we just want to improve from last season.”

WASA, who currently sit on four points from four games, will have their lofty ambitions tested next week when they entertain defending champions FC Santa Rosa. And the “Big Cannons” are firing on all cylinders too, as they hammered Club Sando Moruga 7-0 at the Arima Velodrome yesterday on the back of a hat-trick by attacker Keron Clarke.

It is Guaya who rule the roost at present, though, as they edged UTT 2-1 in O’Meara to remain three points clear at the top of the standings, although Santa Rosa have a game in hand.

(Teams)

WASA FC (3-4-2-1): 13.Denzil Carabon (GK); 2.Damien Pompey, 5.Akil Harley, 3.Phillip Nelson; 27.Kerron St Cyr (10.Michael Lee Celestine 76), 6.Christopher Young, 23.Ché Doyle (25.Dwight Crichlow 79), 15.Cleveland Cambridge (captain); 19.Kirth Hutchings (21.Shem Clauzel 56), 32.Nkosi David; 26.Glen Walker.

Unused Substitutes: 16.Anthony Alleyne (GK), 8.Kevon Henry, 17.Dillon Peterson, 29.Claudius Howard.

Coach: Shurland David

QPCC (3-4-1-2): 99.Raheem Belgrave (GK); 6.Chad De Freitas [Red card 70], 29.Marcus Ashton, 2.Dominic Hutchinson; 16.Mylz Barrington, 20.Shomari Antoine, 23.Shaquille Francis (25.Angel Williams 62), 18.Kern Gardner (14.Jabari Raphael 62); 19.Nasyir Rodriguez; 7.Kevaughn John, 10.Devon Modeste (3.J’ovan Marshall 80).

Unused Substitutes: 11.Ackime Prudhomme, 22.Akel Linton, 24.Jameel Lashley, 28.Jared Pantin-Rogers.

Coach: Shawn Cooper

Referee: Joel Cox

Wired868 Man of the Match: Nkosi David (WASA)

TTSL League One Results

(Sunday 2 July)

Police FC 3 (Anton Hutchinson 58, Colin Williams 64, 80), Siparia Spurs 0 at St James Barracks;

FC Santa Rosa 7 (Saleem Henry 27, Keron Clarke 33, 36, 73, Nathan Julien 45, Keron Bethelmy 46, Mikheil Peters 90), Club Sando Moruga 0 at Arima Velodrome;

Cunupia FC 3 (Stevon Stoute 31, 64), Defence Force 2 (Josimar Belgrave 10, 50) at Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar;

WASA FC 1 (Glen Walker 56), QPCC 1 (Devon Modeste 72) at WASA, St Joseph;

1976 FC Phoenix 2 (Dominique Kerr 8, Jabarry Francis 75), Bethel United 2 (Terelle Collins 18, Teejay Cadiz 56) at Canaan and Bon Accord Recreation Grd;

UTT 1 (Dillon Bartholomew 54), Guaya United 2 (Marcus Ramkalawan 46, Shaquille Ferrier 79) at UTT at O’Meara;

TTSL League Two Results

(Saturday 1 July)

Harlem Strikers 3 (Neon Ogarro 5, Akil London 54, Wendell Archibald 56), Marabella FCC 2 (Jaycee Paras 10, Kendell Mason 86) at Frederick Settlement Recreation Grd;

Prisons FC 0, Central 500 Spartans 1 (Josiah Grazette 18) at YTC, Arouca;

Petit Valley/Diego Martin United FC 2 (Sydney Charles 80, Ishaq Abdullah 86), Youth Stars 1 (Duran Dilworth 15) at Diego Martin North Secondary School;

Perseverance Ball Runners were on a bye.

League One Standings

#   Team   P   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD   PTS
1   Guaya United   4   4   0   0   12   5   7   12
2   FC Santa Rosa   3   3   0   0   11   1   10   9
3   Defence Force FC   4   3   0   1   9   4   5   9
4   Cunupia FC   4   3   0   1   7   4   3   9
5   UTT   4   2   0   2   7   7   0   6
6   QPCC   3   1   1   1   3   2   1   4
7   Police FC   4   1   1   2   5   6   -1   4
8   Wasa FC   4   1   1   2   4   5   -1   4
9   Bethel United   4   1   1   2   4   6   -2   4
10   1976 Phoenix FC   4   0   2   2   5   9   -4   2
11   Siparia Spurs   4   0   1   3   3   10   -7   1
12   Club Sando Moruga   4   0   1   3   1   12   -11   1

League Two Standings

#   Team   P   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD   PTS
1   Central 500 Spartans   2   2   0   0   4   1   3   6
2   Harlem Strikers   2   1   1   0   6   5   1   4
3   Prisons FC   2   1   0   1   4   2   2   3
4   Petit Valley/Diego Martin United   1   1   0   0   2   1   1   3
5   Youth Stars   2   0   1   1   4   5   -1   1
6   Perseverance Ball Runners   1   0   0   1   1   3   -2   0
7   Marabella FCC   2   0   0   2   3   7   -4   0

[Deeks]

Golaso!! aso! aso! aso! Still can't get over this goal. Send it to ESPN!

[Flex]

Hydro Tech forge partnership with Guaya Utd.
T&T Newsday Reports.

LEADING TRINIDAD and Tobago Super League team, Guaya United Football Club, has forged a unique ‘community partnership’ with Hydro Tech Limited with two major objectives in mind, taking the talented football club to the highest rung of the football ladder and playing a significant role in the overall development of the wider Mayaro/Guayaguayare region.

This positive note was struck at a gala function held recently at the Hydro Tech Limited Business Centre, Galeota Point, Guayaguayare, to celebrate the partnership between Hydro Tech and Guaya United with the Mayaro-based company taking on the pivotal role as platinum sponsor of the club.

“While our main interest is striking success on the football field and opening up opportunities, locally, regionally and internationally, for our players to explore their sporting talent, Guaya United FC is also focused on uplifting and developing the community of Mayaro/ Guayaguayare.

“We don’t intend to be just a football club and we are delighted that our premier sponsor shares our vision,” asserts manager Jameson Rigues.

Hydro Tech Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Trevor Lynch, said his company was thrilled to be a major player in the inspirational journey of the community-based team, explaining that the gala launch was aimed at showcasing to the community, and the country, that Guaya United FC was destined to be a model sporting/community organisation for all to emulate. Member of Parliament for Mayaro, Rushton Paray, told the audience at the gala function, that the Hydro Tech-Guaya United partnership was a great platform for sports tourism potential in the Mayaro region.

He urged the youths engaged with the club to be very disciplined, both on and off the field, reminding them that they were “now representatives of both Mayaro/Guayaguayare and Hydro Tech”.

In its short history since its formation in 2010, Guaya United FC upstaged all comers, winning the Super League championship trophy in its very first year of competition in the 2013/2014 season.

Despite a lean time the following year, Guaya rebounded as Knock-Out champions in 2015/2016, and also emerged runners-up in the league championship.

Under the captaincy of Glenton Wolfe, with Ron La Forest as coach, Guaya United’s 2017 squad boasts accomplished players such as talented striker Carlon Hughes, who leads the goal-scoring charts, veteran Kevin Jagdeosingh and Beville Joseph, bolstered by a cadre of young, rising stars.

[amielisadore]

TTSL (League One) Player of the Month June 2017 - Theon James of UTT

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/kb1RX1t8T-I&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/kb1RX1t8T-I&amp;feature=youtu.be</a>

[Deeks]

It would be nice if Hydro could develop a Turf field for them.

[amielisadore]

TTSL CALLS ELECTIONS

The Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) will host its inaugural Elections of the Members of the Board of Directors at its next official General Meeting on Wednesday 9th August 2017 at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

The TTSL was founded on January 2017 and the member clubs appointed an interim Board of Directors to oversee its operations until an election could be called. These interim Board of Directors included Keith Look Loy (FC Santa Rosa) – Interim President, Ryan Ottley (Defence Force Super League FC) – Interim Vice-President, George Joseph (Bethel United FC) – Interim Board Member and Quincy Jones (Siparia Spurs) – Interim Board Member.

Candidates will be vying for the positions of President, Vice-President and Three (3) Ordinary Board Members and will be elected at the General Meeting.

The Election shall be conducted in compliance with the TTSL By-Laws and the TTSL Electoral Committee.