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Offline Trini _2026

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Re: T-League Thread.
« Reply #30 on: August 06, 2022, 01:38:49 PM »
TTFA to go ‘Elite’...governing body submits new league proposal
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)



For the time being, ‘New Elite Football League’ is a place-holder title, meaning the name can be changed.

It better be ...
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Offline Tiresais

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Re: T-League Thread.
« Reply #31 on: September 11, 2022, 01:54:52 AM »
No news in a month? Sigh

Offline Tallman

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Re: T-League Thread.
« Reply #32 on: September 11, 2022, 06:51:24 AM »
W Connection live on...CEO Renee John-Williams: Club has applied to join Elite League
T&T Express


The recent passing of one of their founders, David John-Williams will not result in the folding up of W Connection football club.

“I was CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of the club before David passed. My role remains the same,” stated his daughter Rennee John-Williams, who assured that the club is still in existence.

Former president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (2015-2019), David John-Williams passed away in June. The W Connection co-founder was also a successful businessman, who spent 40 years in the construction industry and invested heavily in his club.

Having taken over from her father, the new W Connection boss also announced the club’s intention to be part of the Elite League proposed by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

“We put in our application just as all other clubs did, “John-Williams announced. “It is still now a waiting game, as with everyone else, to see how we move forward.”

She further explained: “We are waiting to see the way forward to determine how we will proceed as an organisation, just as all the other ten clubs in the Pro League.”

With possible adjustments, John-Williams also noted that W Connection’s well touted youth programme will continue. Through its youth system, W Connection had been able to recruit many future Trinidad and Tobago national players, among them the late Shahdon Winchester and Clyde Leon; Joevin Jones, Triston Hodge and Shannon Gomez.

“We participated in the Tiger Tanks (Under-20 football) competition which ended in June,” John-Williams said. “We run the youth teams typically when there is competition. There is not any competition taking place right now.”

Co-founded in 1999, 23-years ago, by her father David John-Williams, W Connection have gone on to become the most decorated local football club in the past two decades. Coached mainly by Stuart Charles-Fevrier, the outstanding former St Lucia defender, W Connection won five Pro League titles and four FA Trophy titles.

They also won the First Citizens Cup six times and were twice runners-up. Connection have also captured six Pro Bowls, two Toyota Classics, two Lucozade Sport Goal Shields and three Digicel Charity Shields. They are also three-time Caribbean Champions and participated in the CONCACAF Champions League on five occasions.

At their peak, W Connection were able to compete well against the best teams in Mexico’s Liga MX competition, Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States and the Costa Rican League. They drew 3-3 with Mexico’s Toluca during the 2003 CONCACAF Champions Cup before losing the close tie 6-5 on aggregate.

W Connection also beat Mexican giants Pumas of Guadalajara when reaching the quarter-finals of the 2007 CONCACAF club competition and also drew 1-1 with them in 2012–13. They have also had draws with American clubs New York Red Bulls (2-2) in 2009, Houston Dynamo (0-0) in 2013–14 and beat Costa Rican champions Saprissa 2-1 in 2015–16.
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Offline Deeks

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Re: T-League Thread.
« Reply #33 on: September 11, 2022, 08:43:14 AM »
Good to see Ms. Williams is going to carry on with the club. I wish her all the success. :thumbsup:

Offline Tiresais

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Re: T-League Thread.
« Reply #34 on: October 23, 2022, 11:21:58 AM »
So the Elite/T league is in full swing now right? It's the second half of October so we should be several games down?

Shambles. No accountability.

Offline Tallman

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TTFA set to launch Elite League in 2023
« Reply #35 on: November 08, 2022, 07:27:23 PM »
TTFA set to launch Elite League in 2023
By Joel Bailey (T&T Newsday)


THE TRINIDAD and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) is set to launch an elite league, a combination of the T&T Pro League and the Super League, in 2023.

This announcement was made on Tuesday during a media briefing at the National Racquet Centre, Tacarigua.

Robert Hadad, chairman of the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee, which runs the daily affairs of the TTFA, said at the media briefing that a “transitional first season” is targeted to begin in January, followed by a full season to run from September/October 2023 until May 2024.

“We’re really encouraged to announce the development of a new elite league structure, which will be supported by the Ministry of Sport and Community Development,” said Hadad. “FIFA and Concacaf have also indicated their intention to offer support in different ways, for this league to develop. We would be finalising the structure with the clubs over the next few weeks with a targeted kick-off somewhere in 2023.”

Hadad continued, “We do appreciate the fact that the Pro League and the Super League (will meet with us) because there are lots of issues that we have to work out.

“The new structure will see a transitional first season in early 2023. During this transitional league, a committee featuring representatives from clubs’ stakeholders, TTFA, the Government and independent qualified professionals will work towards establishing the new elite structure on a long-term basis, with a projected kick-off of the full league season to run from September/October 2023 to May 2024.

“All of these details need to be worked out between the current members of the Pro League and the Super League because without these teams there would be no (elite) league.”

In September, Justice Devindra Rampersad approved the TTFA’s debt repayment proposal, which was filed under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, which allowed the local governing body to start payments to its creditors.

“This process was overseen by an independent trustee Maria Daniel and her team, and they are in the process of finalising arrangements to disburse these funds to the creditors, under the supervision of the court. These positive steps were key in how football is remediated as it starts rebuilding confidence in the TTFA as a viable entity,” said Hadad.

Asked why the full season is planned to take place from September 2023 until May 2024, Hadad replied, “Because of the (FIFA) windows.

“The way we see it is, and we’re taking advice from FIFA and Concacaf, this is a good timeline to run the league because, in May of every year, you need to announce the two teams that are taking part in the CONCACAF Club Championship. We want to be a part of that.”

Acting chairman of the T&T Pro League, Brent Sancho, commented, “(a merger has) been put to the table on many occasions. Both the Pro and Super League have served football in this country (with distinction).

“When you look at the type of financial support (and) human resources support it has given to young people in this country, I don’t think there is any other entity between the Super and the Pro that has touched as much as we have.”

Lee Davis, Super League president, pointed out, “I’m elated to know that the Government has stated their commitment. The tune of that commitment, that waits to be seen. The work is going to start now to see how the transition from what we had to what we want to be.

“We're looking forward to working with the normalisation committee, me and Brent, and we’ll see where it takes us.”

Douglas Camacho, chairman of the Sports Company of T&T (SporTT), spoke on behalf of Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister of Sport and Community Development.

With regards to the funding of the league, Camacho said, “It is the intention of the Government, through the Sports Company of TT, to fund the proposed league, as agreed to, between FIFA and the local governing bodies.”

Also speaking at the event were Herve Blanchard, FIFA’s Regional Office development manager, and CONCACAF representative Jonathan Martinez.
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Offline Tiresais

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #36 on: November 09, 2022, 05:58:17 AM »
I'll see you all in February for another moan...

Offline Tallman

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #37 on: November 09, 2022, 12:44:49 PM »
Time to play ball: Normalisation Committee to relinquish its role, responsibilities in March
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)


ELITE FOOTBALL returns to Trinidad and Tobago in early 2023 with a transitional league, which will be followed by a main nine-month long competition to be run from September 2023 to May 2024.

The announcement was made during a joint media conference hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), Ministry of Sport, along with the SporTT Company, yesterday, at the National Racquet Centre, Tacarigua.

Chairman of SporTT Douglas Camacho and Robert Hadad, chairman of the FIFA-appointed TTFA normalisation committee, were also joined by FIFA regional office development manager Herve Blanchard, and Jonathan Martinez, CONCACAF’s head of professional football.

Indicating that the normalisation committee (NC) will relinquish its role and responsibility of managing local football affairs in a few months — when its mandate expires in March — Hadad hinted that local football will have a fresh slate to begin with by then.

“We believe that we are finally at a juncture where new life can be breathed into the football landscape,” said Hadad, who indicated the process to pay off the Association’s creditors was being finalised. He also disclosed that top-flight football will resume next year.

“We are really encouraged to announce the development of a new elite league structure which will be supported by the Ministry of Sport and Community Development. FIFA and CONCACAF have also indicated their intent to support in different ways for this league’s development,” he added.

Detail of the league’s composition, funding, prize structure and player remuneration are still to be worked out, with Hadad indicating that discussion with TT Pro League and Super League clubs will begin soon. No decision has yet been made whether to hold a one division league or a tournament comprising both a top and second-tier division.

“We will be finalising the structure of the league with the clubs over the next few weeks,” explained Hadad, adding, “We do appreciate that the Pro League and the Super League are here. We have to sit with them and negotiate through a lot of the governance issues, the structure of the league, when do we start. There are a lot of issues that have to be worked out.”

T&T football teams will also be eligible to compete in Caribbean and CONCACAF club tournaments for the first time in four years, subject to them meeting FIFA club licensing protocols. Coming out of the “transitional” tournament, the top two finishers will qualify for the Caribbean Club Championships, as was in the past.

“The new structure will feature a transitional first season in early 2023,” Hadad revealed. “During this transitional league, a committee comprising representatives from clubs, stakeholders, TTFA, the governments and independent professionals, will work towards establishing the new elite (league) and will be structured on a full basis with a projected kick-off to be run from September 2023 to May 2024.”

He added: “Depending on the number of clubs to qualify to enter the transitional league, there may be two divisions, which will be finalised after discussions with the clubs.”

Government’s involvement in the project was presented by Sports Company chairman Douglas Camacho, in the absence of Minister of Sport Shamfa Cudjoe. Elite football will now revert to TTFA control and reading from Camacho’s input, the SporTT will also only fund football at the elite level, based on the condition that it is sanctioned by both the TTFA and by FIFA, world football’s governing body.

“It is the intention of the government, through the SporTT Company, to fund the Pro League as agreed to by FIFA and the local governing body,” stated Camacho. “We are prepared to support any league that is signed off on by FIFA and the administrators of football that makes sense.”

Professional football has not been played in T&T since March 2020, when the TT Pro League was abruptly halted due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Camacho reiterated that football is the biggest spectator and participant sport in Trinidad and Tobago, strongly suggesting that it is time that top flight football resumes.

“More than 50 per cent of the people that play sport in T&T, play football,” Camacho declared. “I imagine that the football fraternity, certainly the public, is thankful that a couple of people stepped up and ran invitational tournaments in the transitional period, and at least keep the football ticking along at a basic level. But I think it’s time we get it back on a formal footing,” he concluded.
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Offline Flex

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #38 on: November 19, 2022, 01:59:47 AM »
TTFA suggests new dawn with Elite League, but still no kickoff date, clubs or long-term structure.
By Roneil Walcott (Wired868).


It was termed as the “Dawn of a New Era” in Trinidad and Tobago football by SporTT Company chairman Douglas Camacho.

However, by the time the dust was settled at yesterday’s press briefing at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua, there were no confirmed dates for the start of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s (TTFA) New Elite League (NEL), while none of the prospective clubs are fully licensed—and there is no deadline for either to happen.

Fifa-appointed Normalisation Committee chairman Robert Hadad disclosed that the TTFA, with support from the Ministry of Sport and Community Development, intends to start the newly-proposed NEL early in 2023, with a “transitional season”. The first full, official NEL season should start in September/October 2023.

By his own admission, Hadad said many of the finer details are still to be worked out with the prospective TT Pro League and Super League clubs. Pro League chairman Brent Sancho and Super League president Lee Davis were both in attendance at the press briefing.

With the Pro League and Super League clubs accounting for 18 of the TTFA’s 49 delegate spots, it remains to be seen whether those clubs retain any authority once their respective competitions are effectively replaced by the NEL.

Furthermore, prospective NEL clubs must obtain their club licence, which is one of the prerequisites to qualify for the League.

In order to meet the criteria to obtain a club licence, Hadad explained, teams must submit audited accounts, organizational charts, show proof of legal registration and have at least one youth team within their ranks. Not for the first time, a two-tiered domestic club system is being proposed.

Hadad said teams must satisfy TTFA and Concacaf’s club licensing requirements to be granted a regional-level licence to enter Division One, while Division Two teams would be required to meet the criteria to obtain a domestic-level licence.

Present at the briefing were Jonathan Martinez (Concacaf’s Head of Professional Football Development) and Hervé Blanchard (Fifa’s Regional Office Development Manager), who sat alongside Camacho and Hadad at the head table.

Both Blanchard and Martinez spoke about their desire to see T&T’s football on the world stage again, with the latter touching on the importance of club licensing.

“We look at club licensing as a developmental tool to bring the best administrators and coaches to ensure that we have the best people and mechanisms working within the clubs,” Martinez said. “We are here to support the clubs who are going to be participating in this upcoming competition.”

As of now, acting TTFA general secretary Amiel Mohammed confirmed that none of the clubs have satisfied the above criteria.

“The clubs are not fully licensed as yet—the deadline for them hasn’t been reached as yet,” Mohammed told Wired868. “Those are some of the things we are going to finalize with the stakeholder clubs. We have some submissions on the inside already. Maybe about 50% of the clubs have submitted as of right now.

“But that process still has to be overseen by the first instance body, which is the independent body mainly comprising of attorneys who will be the actual ones going into the system and determining who will qualify for a club licence.”

Wired868: “When is the deadline [for clubs to become fully licensed]?”

Mohammed: “The deadline hasn’t been set as yet but we will hope that after consultation with the clubs and what not that it will hopefully be set soon. We’ll have a better idea of how many clubs are licensed and how many clubs are regional and how many clubs are domestic. When we have that information, then we can map out a better 2023.”

Next year should be an interesting one for Trinidad and Tobago’s football then. For coach Angus Eve and his Soca Warriors team, there is still the matter of a Concacaf Nations League B group to navigate.

At present, T&T (9 points) trail group leaders Nicaragua (10 points) with matches still to come away to Bahamas (3 points) and at home, in the land of steelpan and soca, against the Central American group leaders.

The Normalisation Committee vows to restart domestic football too, after three years of dormancy. But it would require the successful navigation of club licensing and possibly constitutional reform.

The local football body hopes to send the top two NEL clubs to participate in the 2023 Concacaf Club Championship.

Trinidad and Tobago has not competed in the Concacaf club competition since 2016—due first to the failure of the David John-Williams-led administration to complete the licensing programme and then the closure of the domestic game due to Covid-19 and the inability of the Normalisation Committee to come to grips with the task.

The proposed truncated NEL season must be completed by May 2023 to meet Concacaf’s deadline for its next club competition while Hadad hopes that the first full season will span from September/October 2023 through to May 2024.

“[The advice from Fifa and Concacaf is] by May 2023, May every year in fact, you need to announce your two teams who will be competing in the Concacaf Championship,” said Hadad. “We want to be a part of that so I’d like it to go back to the days when Trinidad and Tobago teams were actually competitive on that field.”

Before the swashbuckling Terminix La Horquetta Rangers, the “Savonetta Boys” of W Connection or the “Teteron Boys” of Defence Force can begin to dream of Concacaf glory, a feasible long-term structure for the NEL has to be ratified though.

Hadad suggested that this task will be undertaken in “early 2023” during the League’s initial transitional campaign.

“The new structure will feature a transitional first season in early 2023,” Hadad said. “During this transitional League, a committee featuring representatives from club stakeholders, the TTFA, the Government and independent qualified professionals will work towards structuring the New Elite League structure on a long-term basis—with a projected kickoff off the full League season to run from September/October 2023 to May 2024.

“Again, all of these details need to be worked out with members of the Pro League and Super League. Because without the teams, we have no League. The composition of this committee will be finalised in conjunction with the stakeholders of the League structure and will be announced at the formal launch of the League.

“[…] We still have to sit with the Pro League and Super League to negotiate a lot of the governance issues, the structure of the League and when we start.”

In truth, if Davis had it his own way, football would have been restarted already.

“No. I wish [the League] was [starting] sooner,” the Super league president said, in response to a question from reporter Kent Fuentes. “[…] I could understand the financial situation and what not, but every day since I assumed the presidency of the Super League I’ve been asked when football is starting and I just didn’t have the answer.”

Hadad stated that there can be no dancing around the topic of constitutional reform when it comes to the inclusion of the Pro League and Super League clubs in the NEL. Fifa, he said, will guide the TTFA along its journey.

Wired868: “How do the Pro League and Super League clubs maintain their vote within the TTFA constitution?”

Hadad: “We actually discussed that yesterday a bit and we are going to have to get Fifa involved in the process. The constitutional reform is led by Fifa’s Governance Department and the constitutional reform must be in line with Fifa’s constitution and other member associations. We are only taking examples from what others are doing.

“That being said, what happens to their votes is going to be a discussion. It is not going to be us just handing it down and saying this is the way it is.”

The Normalisation Committee’s mandate to run the TTFA ends on 31 March 2023, which almost certainly will be before the end of the mooted transitional NEL season.

Appointed in March 2020 and confirmed in November of the same year, the Hadad-led committee has already received one extension from Fifa to finish a job that should have been wrapped up in March 2022.

Even with an additional year, it remains unlikely that the three-member committee of Hadad, Nigel Romano and Trevor Nicholas Gomez will complete their tasks.

Wired868: “Does the Normalisation Committee plan to apply for another extension once this current mandate expires?”

Hadad: “We are not here to apply for an extension. We are appointed by Fifa and the Fifa General Council will have to approve any extension of the Normalization Committee’s time in office.

“For me personally, it’s been a real roller-coaster ride. I’m grateful for where we are today. I’d be more than happy to end in March 2023. But, we must make sure that when we hand over that we hand over an organization that is debt-free.

“Also, constitutional reform must take place. And at least, some amount of football must be back on track because the 2026 World Cup is not too far away.”

Owing to High Court Judge Devindra Rampersad’s acceptance of TTFA’s debt repayment plan in September, Hadad again suggested that the TTFA is well on its way to remediating football in the country, with plans in the pipeline to do upgrade works on the Ato Boldon Stadium.

“This will now see the Association’s creditors receiving their outstanding payments,” Hadad said of Justice Rampersad’s judgment. “This process was overseen by an independent trustee—Maria Daniel and her team—and they are now in the process of finalising the arrangements to disburse these funds to the creditors under the supervision of the Court.

“These positive steps were key in the remediation of football as it is a start of rebuilding confidence in the TTFA as a viable entity. A TTFA free of debt is a TTFA that can now work towards fulfilling its full potential in football.”

Hadad apologised to the media for the TTFA’s lack of proper communication and transparency in the recent past.

“We really appreciate the media,” Hadad said. “We know we haven’t been the best at communication in the time that we have been here. But also, many a time we were limited by what we could say or should say.

“We are hoping from here on that we will be a lot more transparent in how we develop football moving forward.”

Neither Camacho or Hadad opted to disclose the costs attached to remedial work to be done at the Ato Boldon Stadium (which will host the Commonwealth Youth Game in 2023) and TTFA Home of Football or the sum allocated to the NEL, with taxpayers’ money.

Hadad and recently re-hired TTFA technical director Anton Corneal praised the ongoing Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) and vowed to resume grassroots football from February 2023.

“The only way we can compete at the international level is to have a local league that’s very competitive,” said Corneal. “It is always difficult for our national team to compete and use players who are not playing, so I’m just happy to hear that we are very close to the start.

“Competitions for youth football from February of next year are being put in place—competitions for under-13, under-15 and under-17 boys and girls. That’s going to be put in place by the TTFA and this New Elite League will give younger players the opportunity to be able to compete.”

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Offline Tallman

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #39 on: November 29, 2022, 10:37:56 AM »
Only 9 teams eligible for NEFL first tier as clubs chase Nov 30 deadline.
T&T Guardian


It seems only 11 teams will contest the first tier (Division 1) of the proposed New Elite Football League (NEFL) which is set to kick off next year.

An update on the tournament showed that from the 21 teams that applied to be selected for the tournament, only nine clubs fulfilled the club licensing criteria by the initial deadline, with two other teams - Defence Force (Super League team) and San Juan Jabloteh - close to completing the club licensing process.

The nine clubs are Cunupia FC, Defence Force Pro League, Caledonia AIA, Queens Park Cricket Club, Bethel United, Club Sando, La Horquetta Rangers, Central FC and Prisons Service FC.

The other 10 clubs that applied are AC Port of Spain, Guaya United, Harlem Strikers, Matura Reunited, Petit Valley Diego Martin United, Point Fortin Civic, Police FC, San Fernando Giants, W Connection and new team Real West Fort United.

However, only the 11 teams that met the regional criteria will be allowed to play in Division 1, where they will be eligible to go to CONCACAF club competitions. Teams not meeting the club licensing requirement will be allowed to play in a domestic Division 2.  

The teams have until tomorrow (November 30) to fulfil the club licensing requirement.

The NEFL, an initiative of the FIFA-installed Normalisation Committee more than four months ago, seems to have been posing tremendous problems for local clubs, despite a CONCACAF seminar held at the Northern Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA).

These problems stem from the areas of infrastructure, sporting, administration, finance and legal.

From a combined source of government and the sport's world governing body, FIFA, the tournament will be funded.

According to the release: "Government of T&T and FIFA will support targeted funding framework for Transitional Season that is being finalized with relevant bodies will be broadly allocated as follows: Division 1 Clubs (approx. TT$220K each). Division 1 League Operations (approx. TT$500K). Division 2 League Operations and Travel (approx. TT$200K). Contingency (TT$100K) to be allocated depending on the number of Clubs Licensed.

"Focus to rebuild confidence by showing that funds are used for its defined purpose and that we aggressively adhere to reporting protocols. As such, funds to clubs will be paid through a TTFA-designated payroll agency monthly. Clubs will be required to submit their payroll to the agency. TTFA will remit the funds to the agency and then the payroll will be processed."

Meanwhile, Colin Wharfe has been appointed CEO of the League.

The release added: "The Normalisation Committee in conjunction with the T&T implementation of FIFA League Development Programme agreed on the type of profile and characteristics that would be needed by the resource to spearhead this Elite League Project. The description included an individual with reputable experience in high-level corporate environments, passion for the game and experience in league management.

"A key factor was that the individual must also be highly respected by corporate T&T as someone who has a reputation for being accountable, transparent, diligent and attractive for partnership and investment. Colin Wharfe ticked all these boxes and will serve in the role for at least the first season." 
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Offline royal

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #40 on: December 10, 2022, 11:58:07 AM »
Any updates about this league? Which teams will be in Div 1, which teams will be in Div 2. When will the “transitional season” start . All we have is early 2023, we’ll that’s soon .

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #41 on: January 10, 2023, 04:03:49 PM »
No update yet on Elite League, says Brent Sancho
By Joel Bailey (T&T Newsday)


BRENT SANCHO, acting chairman of the T&T Pro League, has acknowledged that there is a strong likelihood that the proposed Elite League (a merger of the Pro League and the T&T Super League) will not kick off on January 27th, as has been initially planned.

In fact, there is no concrete evidence that the Elite League will take place at all, since there has been little communication, from the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee to both the Pro League and Super League.

On November 8, at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua, the Normalisation Committee (which runs the daily affairs of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association) as well as the Ministry of Sport and the Sport Company of T&T, in collaboration with FIFA and CONCACAF, held a media conference, to announce plans for the Elite League to begin this month.

At the time, Normalisation Committee chairman Robert Hadad said, “The new structure will feature a transitional first season in early 2023. During this transitional league, a committee featuring representatives from the club stakeholders, TTFA, the Government and independent qualified professionals will work towards establishing the new Elite League structure on a long-term basis, with a projected kick off of the full league season to run from September/October 2023 to May 2024.”

However, Sancho said in an interview on Monday, “The last we’ve heard is that the League is supposed to carded to start on January 27th. We haven’t heard anything since that.

“We had a discussion as it relates to Pro League clubs and the composition of the League, some of the concerns that the clubs would have had. The Pro League board, a couple weeks back, also is pursuing the opportunity of looking at measures of what it would look like if we went and play on our own.”

Sancho continued, “The main objective is to facilitate the (return) of football. At the end of the day, we at the T&T Pro League would have entered into discussions probably two-and-a-half (to) three years ago, to put in the hands of the Normalisation Committee elite football in this country. It’s been a very long time.

“We’re extremely concerned with the impact and we’ve said that to the NC. In fact, it’s hard in terms of the player pool. We’re extremely concerned on the impact it’s hard on the industry.”

Sancho pointed out, “We’ve had a request to get assistance (from) the covid relief funds that the NC would have received from FIFA. We were not assisted in that, which would have helped in giving our players some sort of financial relief. That didn’t come to fruition.”

The former T&T defender noted, “We have to take everything into stock because we feel it is extremely necessary now that we have to explore every single action as it relates to top tier football in this country. We’ve reached to that point where alarms are ringing, and it has been ringing for some time. We’ve tried our best to be as patient as possible and, as much as we’ll continue to be patient, we are going to explore and look at the entirety of the picture.”

As far as the Super League (headed by former referee Lee Davis) is concerned, Sancho said, “I know they have been in discussion with the Normalisation Committee. I don’t know where they are, as it relates to the Super League’s position.

“The clubs are very concerned of the length of time of (the inactivity). We’ve had Ascension, we’ve had Tiger Tanks, we’ve had NLCB (tournaments) playing but there has been nothing (at the top tier level).

He added, “Just like any other industry in this country, the pandemic would have had a tremendous impact into it. We’ve put, basically, our cards in the hands of the normalisation committee. We've been patient but the buck stops with us, so we have to make decisions.”

When was the last time the Normalisation Committee communicated with the Pro League?

Sancho replied, “I think the last time there was a meeting would have been during the World Cup (in Qatar), the end of November or in December. The main thing is the execution. There is no secret that funding is the key thing for this league to take off.

“Pro League club owners have done tremendously well in the (over) 20 years of existence, in terms of funding this thing. If we are serious in attaining one out of eight spots for the (2026) World Cup, I believe how serious we take this situation would have a bearing as to how we do it.”

Asked how the clubs are dealing with this issue, Sancho responded, “All members want to play football. It is a tremendous and herculean kind of push to get them there. We need to get things back on track.

“We have to figure out a way to kickstart the industry. The longer we stay dormant, it will be the more difficult for things to restart.”

Efforts to reach Hadad, and acting general secretary of the TTFA Amiel Mohammed, proved futile up to press time on Monday.
The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

Offline Trini _2026

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #42 on: January 11, 2023, 04:18:20 AM »
Sanhco supported this ..
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Offline Tiresais

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #43 on: January 19, 2023, 08:18:41 AM »
I'll see you all in February for another moan...
Any updates about this league? Which teams will be in Div 1, which teams will be in Div 2. When will the “transitional season” start . All we have is early 2023, we’ll that’s soon .

I'm thinking February was too optimistic...

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #44 on: January 19, 2023, 05:08:04 PM »
Minister Misinformed: TTFA member Browne challenges Cudjoe’s statements
T&T Express


SELBY BROWNE, a Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) member, has described Minister of Sport and Community Development (MSCD) Shamfa Cudjoe’s comments about the TTFA proposal for a professional league as unfortunate and misinformed.

In a radio interview last week, Cudjoe said the Ministry would not engage in supporting a professional league venture without the backing of the Normalisation Committee (NC) and FIFA.

She also said that there were people among the TTFA membership bent on causing a disturbance, accused the TTFA among other national governing bodies of mismanagement.

Browne, also the president of the Veteran Footballers Foundation of Trinidad an Tobago (VFFOTT), believes the Minister is being ill-advised.

“I consider the pronouncements of the young Minister of Sport and Community Development, quite unfortunate indeed. Clearly the well-intentioned Minister is misinformed, and would be well advised to have new advisers appointed for sport in general or football in particular,” Browne told the Express.

Browne indicated that FIFA had appointed the NC as a caretaker body in order for the TTFA to complete four items. Its mandate was initially for two years before being extended by an additional year, until March, 2023. Last year at an Extraordinary General Meeting, 20 TTFA delegates voted in favour of fresh elections on March 18, the day after the term of the Normalisation Committee is to end.

The NC’s remit included running the day-to-day affairs of the TTFA; addressing the settlement of huge TTFA debts; making recommendations to the TTFA Constitution if required by the membership of the TTFA; and convening the election of officers of the TTFA for a four-year term.

“The TTFA membership is fully aware of its role, function and the authority vested in them, and quite clear of the mandate of the Normalisation Committee, contracted to perform work on its behalf,” said Browne. “The unfortunate reality is certain members of the Normalisation Committee and present and past members of the TTFA, for some unknown reason, have been of the view that the Normalisation Committee has been placed to administer football in T&T for eternity, and not a contractor appointed to complete a mandate within a specific period, for which due payment is made.”

Browne said also that the recommendations, guidelines and policies for the restructure of the TTFA to ensure no recurrence of mismanagement in the TTFA have not been presented to date.

He added that it is possible the NC may wish to ask FIFA for additional time to complete the work originally assigned for a two-year period.

Browne hoped that the Minister would strive to engage in productive discussions with the TTFA membership for the advancement of the sport to move beyond this NC transition period.

“As TTFA member, it would be pleasing to have serious discussions on creating jobs in sport throughout the communities, on the several sport and recreation fields and facilities throughout Trinidad and Tobago, several of which are state assets, some maintained by regional corporations and others by the former Caroni Limited and petroleum companies,” Browne stated. “This will certainly prove beneficial and welcomed by the citizens of the Republic and considered an excellent initiative of the Minister of Sport and Community Development.”
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Offline Tallman

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #45 on: January 20, 2023, 08:13:48 PM »
TTFA appoints Colin Wharfe as CEO of its Senior Men's League competitions
TTFA Media


The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association is pleased to announce that Colin Wharfe has been appointed as the CEO of the new TTFA Senior Men’s League competitions, which will kick off after Carnival 2023.

The TTFA Normalization Committee in conjunction with a FIFA League Development Programme representative determined the type of profile and characteristics that would be expected of the individual chosen to spearhead this League, previously referred to as the “Elite League.”

The profile included an individual with extensive experience in senior leadership positions, passion for the game and experience in league management. A key factor was that the individual must also be highly respected by corporate Trinidad and Tobago as someone who has a reputation for being accountable, transparent, and diligent and as such attractive for partnership and investment.

Wharfe, who has worked with T&T Pro Clubs and served as Chairman of the Steering Committee of the 2022 Tiger Tanks Under-20 Tournament is no stranger to the football circuit and was selected as the ideal fit and will serve in the role for at least the first season.

“Trinidad & Tobago football’s senior clubs and its players deserve, at a minimum, to be participating in competition at the highest level in the CONCACAF region and we are working diligently to accomplish that. This in turn will assist in restoring our once pride of place among the top teams in the region.”

“But even before that step, we must work towards restoring the pride of local football in the players, coaches, corporate supporters and the public.” – Colin Wharfe

Wharfe has already been in consistent dialogue with the prospective clubs and will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that the foundation of this new league structure is robust, sustainable and attractive.

The name of the League and its logo, funding, the successfully licensed clubs, the governance of the League and other details will be unveiled to the Public at the upcoming launch carded for the next few weeks.
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Offline Flex

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #46 on: January 23, 2023, 05:50:09 PM »
Browne tells NC: Leave Elite League alone.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).


“Leave the proposed New Elite Football League (NEFL) alone and focus on the mandate given to you,” says Selby Browne, president of the Veterans Football Foundation of T&T to the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee, which is being led by chairman Robert Hadad on Sunday.

Browne, disappointed over the lengthy delay by Hadad and his members to complete their mandate of: running the TTFA’s daily affairs; establishing a debt repayment plan that is implementable by the TTFA; reviewing and amending the TTFA Statutes (and other regulations where necessary) and ensuring their compliance with the FIFA Statutes and requirements before duly submitting them for approval to the TTFA Congress; as well as to organise and to conduct elections of a new TTFA Executive Committee for a four-year mandate, said he believes there are people who are bent on cashing in on monies from the FIFA and the government.

“It is embarrassing that administrators are being paid in football when the footballers are not,” Browne said.

Only on Friday, Browne in his capacity as a member of the T&T Football Association, received a letter that was sent from FIFA to the normalisation committee warning that it should complete the tasks given to them, before they can study a request for an EGM by the members. Browne said the FIFA was only exercising its power and rightfully so, because the normalisation committee has not achieved not even one of the four mandates given to them as yet, despite being given an extension.

“What business does the normalisation committee has with compliance of clubs, of starting a new football league when they have not even paid the creditors?. The normalisation committee received approval from the courts since last September, yet their complaint is that a meeting of the members on December 10 last year prevented the creditors from being paid...now does that make any sense?”

“If the normalisation committee had been doing its job of looking after the operation’s of football, then it would not have been totally dependant on funding from the FIFA or the government. The normalisation committee has fallen woefully short of attracting investors to the sport, it has not brought any sponsors. Yet footballers are not paid when they are. This is a disgrace,” Browne said.

The new elite football league was scheduled to kick off this month with a seasonal competition. On Thursday the T&TFA appointed administrator Colin Wharfe as the Chief Executive Officer of the new T&T Football Association (TTFA) senior men’s football competition, expected to be called the Elite League, expected to kick off after Carnival 2023 season.

A release from the TTFA said: “The T&TFA Normalization Committee in conjunction with a FIFA League Development Programme representative determined the type of profile and characteristics that would be expected of the individual chosen to spearhead this League, previously referred to as the ‘Elite League’.”

According to Browne: “Any formation of the Elite League as proposed, means that you have to come to the TTFA members to ask for approval to seek approval of the constitution. Why are you amending a constitution when you are on your way out the door?.

The mandate for a possible change to the constitution stated clearly that it can be amended only if required, and the only persons to determine if changes are required or not are the TTFA members, nobody else. And the only persons to approve it are the TTFA members, nobody else.

And I say right now as a matter of priority as a TTFA member is to pay the creditors, having football active from youth to national levels, and calling the election. Finish your business and pack up. Any amendment to the constitution and proposal for a new league must be with the new executive,” Browne said.

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Offline Trini _2026

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #47 on: January 23, 2023, 06:39:18 PM »
Browne tells NC: Leave Elite League alone.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).


“Leave the proposed New Elite Football League (NEFL) alone and focus on the mandate given to you,” says Selby Browne, president of the Veterans Football Foundation of T&T to the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee, which is being led by chairman Robert Hadad on Sunday.

Browne, disappointed over the lengthy delay by Hadad and his members to complete their mandate of: running the TTFA’s daily affairs; establishing a debt repayment plan that is implementable by the TTFA; reviewing and amending the TTFA Statutes (and other regulations where necessary) and ensuring their compliance with the FIFA Statutes and requirements before duly submitting them for approval to the TTFA Congress; as well as to organise and to conduct elections of a new TTFA Executive Committee for a four-year mandate, said he believes there are people who are bent on cashing in on monies from the FIFA and the government.

“It is embarrassing that administrators are being paid in football when the footballers are not,” Browne said.

Only on Friday, Browne in his capacity as a member of the T&T Football Association, received a letter that was sent from FIFA to the normalisation committee warning that it should complete the tasks given to them, before they can study a request for an EGM by the members. Browne said the FIFA was only exercising its power and rightfully so, because the normalisation committee has not achieved not even one of the four mandates given to them as yet, despite being given an extension.

“What business does the normalisation committee has with compliance of clubs, of starting a new football league when they have not even paid the creditors?. The normalisation committee received approval from the courts since last September, yet their complaint is that a meeting of the members on December 10 last year prevented the creditors from being paid...now does that make any sense?”

“If the normalisation committee had been doing its job of looking after the operation’s of football, then it would not have been totally dependant on funding from the FIFA or the government. The normalisation committee has fallen woefully short of attracting investors to the sport, it has not brought any sponsors. Yet footballers are not paid when they are. This is a disgrace,” Browne said.

The new elite football league was scheduled to kick off this month with a seasonal competition. On Thursday the T&TFA appointed administrator Colin Wharfe as the Chief Executive Officer of the new T&T Football Association (TTFA) senior men’s football competition, expected to be called the Elite League, expected to kick off after Carnival 2023 season.

A release from the TTFA said: “The T&TFA Normalization Committee in conjunction with a FIFA League Development Programme representative determined the type of profile and characteristics that would be expected of the individual chosen to spearhead this League, previously referred to as the ‘Elite League’.”

According to Browne: “Any formation of the Elite League as proposed, means that you have to come to the TTFA members to ask for approval to seek approval of the constitution. Why are you amending a constitution when you are on your way out the door?.

The mandate for a possible change to the constitution stated clearly that it can be amended only if required, and the only persons to determine if changes are required or not are the TTFA members, nobody else. And the only persons to approve it are the TTFA members, nobody else.

And I say right now as a matter of priority as a TTFA member is to pay the creditors, having football active from youth to national levels, and calling the election. Finish your business and pack up. Any amendment to the constitution and proposal for a new league must be with the new executive,” Browne said.




Of all people eh .. :bs:
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Offline Deeks

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #48 on: January 24, 2023, 11:24:02 AM »
Of all people eh .. :bs:

Explain!

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #49 on: January 26, 2023, 12:42:44 AM »
Right now all we have is elite "commess".

Offline Tallman

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #50 on: February 02, 2023, 08:42:34 PM »
Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League to launch on February 6th
TTFA Media


The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) will launch the new T&T Premier Football League (TTPFL) at a function on Monday 6 February 2023 at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain.

TTPFL CEO Colin Wharfe believes that the development of the League is moving in a positive and structured manner that should create excitement for fans, players and stakeholders alike.

“The T&T Premier Football League team and I have been working to ensure that the foundation of this new enterprise is thorough and robust. We met with the clubs on Wednesday (1 February 2023) and provided updates and engaged in productive dialogue to ensure everyone’s readiness to kick off on this new adventure.”

“These details will be announced to the public next week.”

The TTPFL will announce the clubs that have been successfully licensed under the club licensing system for the top division, competition structure, the kick off date of the top division and other details at the 6 February launch.
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Offline Deeks

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Re: Elite League Thread
« Reply #51 on: February 03, 2023, 12:02:17 PM »
Colin Wharfe name sounds very familiar. Maybe from St Joseph

 

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