Sidebar

28
Thu, Mar

Typography

“Before you sign (contract) documents, you must (first) understand what you’re getting into,” Attorney-at-Law, Dave Williams, advised players.

 Williams, also the chairman of the TT Pro League Player Status Committee, served as facilitator during the League’s Player Development Seminar – Knowing Your Contract, at Digicel IMAX in Woodbrook on Wednesday morning.

In its continued effort to enhance footballers professionally, on and off the field, Wednesday’s seminar was the first of a serious of seminars by the League.

Other seminars will include ‘Managing Your Finance’ and ‘Professional Development’.

“(Seminars like these are) preparing the foundation for you, to improve your skill, not only at your feet,” added Williams.

In the words of Dr. Maya Angelou, one of the most renowned and influential voices of our time, League CEO Dexter Skeene quoted, “When you know better, you do better.”

“A more well-informed player will help produce a better product on the field,” added Skeene. “So we are not only developing them on the field, but also off the field.”

In sticking with the topic, Skeene told the representing players of clubs, “You cannot consider yourself a serious professional footballer if you fail to, or, refuse to take your contract seriously.

“You cannot be serious about your career if your attitude is …I have an agent, manager or coach to deal with that. Professional football is serious business.”

Williams told the attentive crowd of players “a contract is a voluntary thing” and that it is responsible for engaging the player.

“Read the terms of your contract,” said the Tobago-born Attorney-at-Law. “If it doesn’t have a good explanation or you don’t understand your contract, just don’t sign it.

“Seek independent advice. It can be from anyone; a legal person, a family member, an agent, or whoever.”

Williams touched on various aspects of a contract, such as negotiations of contracts, contractual obligations and termination of contracts.

Representing players of W Connection, Central FC, North East Stars, Police FC, San Juan Jabloteh and St. Ann’s Rangers raised questions of salaries, fines, health benefits and player insurance, and freedom of transfers at the end of their contracts.

“I've learnt a lot from the exercise,” said veteran W Connection midfielder Silvio Spann. “Although a lot of it was a reminder of what I've heard before, being a professional that I've been for a length of time locally and abroad.”

Spann, who joined Connection in 2000, and now boasts a professional career spanning over a decade, had stints in Italy, Croatia, Japan and England.

Williams told players to enhance their careers on and off the field, and use the opportunity presented to them in the local league as a platform to the bigger leagues abroad.

Spann credited W Connection for professionalism and honesty when it came to contractual agreements, but believes there is an urgent need for a players' association.

“One of the most important things I've learned from this seminar is that players need a players’ association,” added Spann.

“It's vital and I think the information gathered today in terms of the questions asked by players, calls for a players’association. Players are really hurting deep inside and some of the questions need to be addressed.

“The knowledge we have gained here today would have switched that light on, in terms of taking their questions and concerns through the proper structure.”

Williams reminded that the Player Status Committee, an independent body, has dealt with concerns in an expeditious manner, and will continue to do so, once issues are brought to the attention of the League formally.

Williams told the attentive crowd of players “a contract is a voluntary thing” and that it is responsible for engaging the player.

“Read the terms of your contract,” said the Tobago-born Attorney-at-Law. “If it doesn’t have a good explanation or you don’t understand your contract, just don’t sign it.

“Seek independent advice. It can be from anyone; a legal person, a family member, an agent, or whoever.”

Williams touched on various aspects of a contract, such as negotiations of contracts, contractual obligations and termination of contracts.

Representing players of W Connection, Central FC, North East Stars, Police FC, San Juan Jabloteh and St. Ann’s Rangers raised questions of salaries, fines, health benefits and player insurance, and freedom of transfers at the end of their contracts.

“I've learnt a lot from the exercise,” said veteran W Connection midfielder Silvio Spann. “Although a lot of it was a reminder of what I've heard before, being a professional that I've been for a length of time locally and abroad.”

Spann, who joined Connection in 2000, and now boasts a professional career spanning over a decade, had stints in Italy, Croatia, Japan and England.

Williams told players to enhance their careers on and off the field, and use the opportunity presented to them in the local league as a platform to the bigger leagues abroad.

Spann credited W Connection for professionalism and honesty when it came to contractual agreements, but believes there is an urgent need for a players' association.

“One of the most important things I've learned from this seminar is that players need a players’ association,” added Spann.

“It's vital and I think the information gathered today in terms of the questions asked by players, calls for a players’ association. Players are really hurting deep inside and some of the questions need to be addressed.

“The knowledge we have gained here today would have switched that light on, in terms of taking their questions and concerns through the proper structure.”

Williams reminded that the Player Status Committee, an independent body, has dealt with concerns in an expeditious manner, and will continue to do so, once issues are brought to the attention of the League formally.