For the last five years, the NLCL Community Cup has thankfully grown from strength to strength, based on extremely generous sponsors, as well as, hardworking and wonderful committee, teams, volunteers, match officials, fans and supporters. There is tremendous pride in maintaining very high standards, as all engage in what can be deemed our Christian duty. Even as the nation exited the Covid pandemic lockdown, this would have been one entity ready to begin an expanded tournament encompassing teams from communities across the length and breadth of Trinidad & Tobago.
The NLCL Community Cup tournament series is currently run under the auspices of the registered non-profit charitable organization, the Next Level Foundation. The tournament tagline is Saving Our Youth Through Football. Since inception in 2019, it has proudly worked with many generous sponsors to offer over one thousand (1,000) young footballers (boys and girls) the opportunity to play and develop in this wonderful sport, with which they share an extreme passion about. Over a million dollars has been raised and spent on youth football in the relatively short time of existence. There are numerous examples of young talented footballers who have gone on to national and international duty after playing in these well-organized tournament(s).
In addition to the Under 19, under 15, and under 11 boys, the Tournament Committee has also hosted under 13 girls tournaments between Trinidad & Tobago. Many of the games are currently available on YouTube, and the Committee is thankful to have maintained a very strong partnership with Flow Sports to broadcast knockout games internationally, with viewership statistics available from as far as Germany, Bangladesh, United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Jamaica.
According to Tournament Chairperson, Mrs. Germaine Jordan, “It’s not just about on field youth development for us, as we have also worked with the general public and sponsors nationwide to provide thousands of pounds of wholesome nutrition to at-risk youths (and their families) on registered teams, through our annual Holiday Hamper Drive.” She added, “Most recently the Committee started an annual Scouting Combine and Showcase, with coaches from the US and Brazil coming to our shores to look at the blossoming young talent available locally. In short, this is about development and providing platform opportunities.”
To date, it should be repeated that over a million dollars has been raised and spent in the mission to assist in youth football and community development. The people involved in the tournament organization have collectively spent more than four decades in business, as well as, in football. Many of the participating teams have reported on numerous occasions, many of their players have been kept off the streets and away from gangs and other criminal elements, as a result of the tournament.
The tournament committee is committed to the highest standards possible, and all remain humble servants of the game, inclusive of the young talent, and other stakeholders. The same can be said for the many selfless volunteers who have so gainfully and earnestly assisted over the years.
From inception in 2019, the Committee has worked with the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association (TTFA), the local governing body for the sport. They have also worked with the Ministry of Sport & Community Development, and the Sport Company of Trinidad & Tobago. From 2019 to now, there have been a few iterations of the TTFA Executive administrations, due to various factors. The tournament committee has unequivocally attempted to support every iteration of the TTFA, including the incoming TTFA Executive with current President, Mr. Kieron Edwards.
With that said, the TTFA Safeguarding Unit is currently a “one man show”, with an extremely big role and fairly noble mission. Critically, it is part of a global effort led by FIFA to protect our vulnerable youngsters, which the NLCL leadership wholeheartedly supports in spirit. To that end, in December 2023, the NLCL Community Cup Committee organized its own TTFA Safeguarding certification class to ensure the tournament and all teams were compliant before heading into that season. Thanks to our combined efforts, there were eighteen (18) participants who received certificates on that day.
As this is a relatively new undertaking, the NLCL committee would have instructed all registered teams to co-operate with the effort. Subsequently, tournament rules were changed to ensure all teams and their staff members were Safeguarding certified from that time and moving forward. Without contradiction, it can categorically be stated that there has never been a team or staff member in any NLCL Community Cup tournaments without a Safeguarding certificate, since that time.
Be that as it may, and in spite of our complete support of the TTFA Safeguarding initiative, there appears to be an effort to undermine the tremendous work put in and the respect built up across all stakeholders. At this time, there is no conclusive evidence that the effort is malicious, however, like many other stakeholders, we believe that the TTFA Safeguarding Unit is woefully understaffed. Can one person truly undertake the entire stated mission of the Safeguarding Unit effectively or efficiently? Do any other countries entrust their Association’s Safeguarding Unit to one person?
Locally, that singular person is charged with not only certifying everyone, and printing certificates; but also to investigate every reported infraction; write every report; as well as, make pronouncements of innocence or guilt. He is literally the judge, jury and executioner of Safeguarding and one can only imagine the most organized person being challenged to keep proper notes, and to keep files properly organized. It is veritably and verifiably an almost impossible task. In addition, many would argue that having such a setup defies basic principles of natural justice, and/or fair outcomes.
In our specific circumstance, for over a year, the Safeguarding Unit has been undertaking “an investigation”, for which the NLCL Community Cup has provided every single requested item in their possession. Significant attorney fees and time has been expended in this regard. To be accused of not co-operating is in our minds categorically and verifiably false. Furthermore, we know that in a fair review of the Safeguarding Unit’s methodologies and processes, which brought about a provisional suspension of the NLCL Community Cup, any industry professional would find quite a few shocking faults and risks. Such a review could possibly showcase that the unit’s current modus operandi, if allowed to continue, could expose the organization to possible litigation, and/or undermining of its own efforts and agenda.
Over the last few months, multiple letters, emails and Whatsapp messages have been sent to the TTFA President and Executive. The TTFA General Secretary was most recently copied into the matter. To this point, no response has been received. All members of the TTFA Executive are aware of the NLCL’s desire to resolve this matter amicably and of our hope to help in the improvement of the Safeguarding Unit. In our relatively short history, we have learned that sponsors and stakeholders are keen to work with entities who are open to setting high standards of transparency and who display a willingness to assure good governance and administrative improvement.
Mrs. Jordan opined, “It goes without saying, we continue to have hope the TTFA leadership collectively are willing to get this matter resolved so that we can kickoff our NLCL Community Cup Under 19 season soon, and on schedule. The many stakeholders who rely on this tournament to help their youngsters and their communities have all reached out to state they have full confidence in our NLCL management team, and we owe it to them to ensure we continue with our mission of youth development through the sport of football. We truly appreciate their overwhelming vote of confidence and we all believe that a speedy and amicable resolution to this matter would be for the greater good of all stakeholders.”
For More Information: Mr. Brian K. Jordan, NLCL Community Cup (868) 389-0516