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The Ministry of Sport has promised to pay match fees to the National Men’s Under-23 and Senior Women’s Team football players but not over 100 other athletes that will also represent Trinidad and Tobago at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.
So should they?
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s (TTFA) habit of tearing into the taxpayers’ purse has been a sore spot for other local National Sporting Organisations (NSO) for a long time.
Predictably then, there were some angry “letters to the Editor” in response to news that Sport Minister Brent Sancho promised match fees to footballers while the other athletes, including former champions and Olympic medalists like Keshorn Walcott, George Bovell III and Jehue Gordon, would perform for national pride at the Pan Am Games.
Match fees are customary for “Soca Warriors” and, of late, “Women Soca Warriors” and the problem arises only because the TTFA is unable to pay its own athletes.
As such, Wired868 gives sport fans a chance to have their say.
Should the Ministry of Sport pay footballers to play at the Pan Am Games at the same time the other athletes go unpaid?
(Courtesy Christianstt.com)
Please write in and let us know.
The following is the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee’s (TTOC) full roster for the 2015 Pan American Games, which will be led by Chef de Mission Diane Henderson:
Athletics: Keston Bledman, Marcus Duncan, Rondel Sorrillo, Mikel Thomas, Emmanuel Callender, Dan-Eil Telsford, Kyle Greaux, Machel Cedenio, Emanuel Mayers, Elton Walcott, Steve Waithe, Quincy Wilson, Emmanuel Stewart, Shakeil Waithe, Renny Quow, Jarrin Solomon, Lalonde Gordon, Jehue Gordon, Keshorn Walcott, Kelly- Ann Baptiste, Semoy Hackett, Reyare Thomas, Kamaria Durant, Lisa Wickham, Peli Alzola, Janeil Belille, Romona Modeste, Jessica James, Alena Brooks, Sparkle McKnight, Josanne Lucas, Ayanna Alexander, Deandra Daniel, Cleopatra Borel and Marsha Mark Baird;
Aquatics: George Richard Bovell III, Dylan Carter,Christian Marzden;
Badminton: Nicholas Bonkowsky;
Beach Volleyball: Daneil Williams, Fabien Whitfield, Ayana Dyette, Malika Davidson;
Boxing: Chimere Taylor;
Cycling: Njisane Phillip, Quincy Alexander, Jude Codrington, Justin Roberts, Varun Maharajh, Emile Abraham;
Football (Men): Aaron Enill, Shannon Gomez, Maurice Ford, Alvin Jones, Jesus Perez, Neveal Hackshaw, Jomal Williams, Tristan Hodge, Nathaniel Garcia, Ricardo John, Shackiel Henry, Xavier Rajpaul, Duane Muckette, Jelani Felix, Neil Benjamin, Dario Holmes, Aikim Andrews, Jovan Sample;
Football (Women): Kennya Cordner, Tasha St Louis, Karyn Forbes, Kimika Forbes, Maylee Attin-Johnson, Rhea Belgrave, Janine Francois, Arin King, Patrice Superville, Dernelle Mascall, Mariah Shade, Khadidra Debesette, Ayanna Russell, Ahkeela Mollon, Brianna Ryce, Shalette Alexander, Lauryn Hutchinson, Shenelle Henry;
Golf: Monifa Sealy, Christina Ferreira, Talin Rajendranath, Sachin Kumar;
Gymnastics: William Albert, Marisa Dick;
Hockey: Darren Cowie, Solomon Eccles, Shaquille Daniel, Mickel Pierre, Akim Toussaint, Che Modeste, Christopher Scipio, Dillet Gilkes, Jordon Reyos, Aidan De Gannes, Kiel Murray, Stefan Mouttet, Tariq Marcano, Andrey Rocke, Kristien Emmanuel, Ishmael Campbell;
Judo: Christopher George;
Sailing: Andrew Lewis, Kelly-Ann Arrindell;
Shooting: Marlon Moses, Anthony Maraj, Roger Daniel;
Taekwondo: Dorian Alexander.
T&T took bronze despite almost missing the competition due to late funding from the Ministry of Sport.
(Courtesy panamhockey.org)
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Only on Facebook Natasha?? Lol !
It would be good to know what the policy is in other countries. e.g. Jamaica and maybe even Canada
The reality is that the government is doing anything to help ANY of the atlethes for the PanAm games
But uncle u not following hockey is Mikel and then the rest in hockey!! lol
u know how pierres do it!! lol
Buh A A I see a Mikel Pierre made it on the hockey team to represent our sweet country eh, nice very nice, Gordon Pierre LOL
I agre Joan Layne
The athletes taking part in the Pan Am Games should not be paid for participating but they should all get a stipend based on the number of days they will be out of the country . The amount should be the same per day for all the athletes. Then the Medal winners should receive an incentive and that amount should be standardized based on the medal that is won and it should not matter whether it is an individual sport, relay or team sport. If however, the National Football Teams are taking part in a football tournament then the TTFA can pay them or do whatever is standard for that sport. It would not matter because the other sporting disciplines will not be involved.
There are well over 100 athletes in Toronto though. I’m pretty sure the Gov’t cannot afford to give US$500 to all for every appearance.
That’s always been a bone of contention. It’s not only for Panama. Some teams get “salaries ” while in training and in tournaments while others get not one thing. In fact there are countless horror stories that continue to this day of athletes barely getting proper equipment to perform. The situation has been and is patently unfair!
I think if associations are able to afford it and want to give their athletes monetary rewards, then that is great. But I can understand some athletes wondering why some are being paid by the Govt and some aren’t.
There is no chance that the U-23 men footballers will medal. So special consideration doesn’t apply to me.
Yeah but not all the athlete’s go on to lucrative professional careers hence the reason why many of them eventually ends up on the wrong side of the law especially in the drug trade eh look what happened to the Fab 5 fellas at the university of Michigan eh, perfect example of a system that was put in place against poor black fellas while the rich white kids who are also on the same scholarships never have the same experiences, their business always fix. Them really good yes.
Fair point, however like everything else in T&T things are run terribly and with a lack of accountability stemming from “fren fren”
Either pay all, or pay none. If there is a reward system after they medal, that is a different story.
Yes, colleges make a lot of money off their sports teams. But when you consider that a four year education at a lot of US colleges these days is easily over US$100K, plus athletes can get stipends, and then go on to potentially lucrative professional careers, in the end it’s not a horrendous deal. But that is just the way things work; companies take home millions in profits and some people work for minimum wage. Doesn’t mean it’s right. Just means that’s how it works.
And that is the same madness that takes place with the college sports in the America eh, the schools makes millions of monies while their athletes represents their school on scholarships eh, and the players have to always find monies some other way to help themselves while they are attending these schools and most of the times they come from poor families eh but the NCAA have a set a rules eh, to control them . Them really good yes.
And why they must represent their country for free when everyone body else going to the bank smiling Steeuupps Them really good yes.
Chabeth them days done for representing your country 4 free its all about the money now with most of these athletes 1 way or the other they all want 2 get paid somehow
It would depend on the culture of the sport and the amateur/professional status of the athlete. But ideally, I don’t think people should get paid to represent their country. A reward if you excel sure, but strapping on red white and black and having an entire country cheer you on is an honour. And that notion seems to be sorely missing.
Pay them all
How do we choose who gets paid??
A simple No, once they are not paying the other athletes. Question: What additional value does the footballers give to warrant special compensation? The only payment I support is if they or any other athlete medal in the game. There should be a standard compensation package of medals. It is important to note that athletes get a stipend per day when they are on tour.
Sarcasm clearly is lost on fb… 😐
Chabeth is right you can’t pay all because every person situation maybe different depending on sport and status either pro or amateur
There is a difference between funding an athlete so that he/she can get training, equipment etc etc and paying somebody to represent their country.
Well said Chabeth
And idk maybe athletes could have a little more national pride and want to represent their country for the honour of it. I’m not saying anybody should be treated like crap, but when you go on these teams everything is paid for. So maybe a stipend to buy souvenirs or something. But society degenerates when everything has to be about money.
But you cannot pay just one group
Then divide the scholarship Athletes from the pros, give them a stipend
Liking this convo!! Just remember we have elite athletes in this squad that get 250000 per year from the govt compared to some who scarifice for year without compensation!!
I don’t think you can just have a blanket policy that says pay every athlete. There’s a kid on the aquatics team who is 16 years old. You pay him, you kill his chances of being able to swim at the US collegiate level because he would have violated NCAA rules. Also, the payment culture differs across sports. Footballers have yearly salaries. In other sports, there’s a cup circuit, for example, and when you win, you get prize money. If you don’t win, you get nothing. Either way, if athletes are to be paid it should be from associations’ bank accounts and not ministry funds. And with respect to PanAm in particular, it’s an IOC event and the IOC is supposed to be free from government politics so Idk that it would be appropriate for the government to be paying athletes to attend PanAm.
“There’s a kid on the aquatics team who is 16 years old. You pay him, you kill his chances of being able to swim at the US collegiate level because he would have violated NCAA rules.”
This is actually not the case. There are exceptions to the prohibition, such as payment of “reasonable and necessary costs” associated with the student-athlete’s participation in the sporting activity for which s/he is ‘paid.’ Under this rubric a stipend very likely would be authorized.
SO are you saying Cleopatra Borel does not deserve funding? Or does not show Warrior spirit??
I can call many other athletes, that show warrior spirit, most of us are football fans, so we back the Ladies, but trust me, Most of all our athletes demonstrate that Spirit
Hmm aren’t there FIFA rules for govt interference?
If the Organizations were managed properly then financial support and sponsorship would be more forthcoming and such payments would be a non issue.
The individuals and teams that represent Trinidad and Tobago best. For example the Senior Women’s Football team clearly should be paid, when one were to consider their struggle and where they are now. We have individual athletes who benefit from special programs from the Ministry of sports hence they cannot be double dipping. Furthermore the warriors of 2006 WC are the the best example of overpaid losers. It is a joke. Just give the women footballers their space because they are the best examples of warrior spirit, at least 90% have a college or university degree, could you say the same for the men. Your women team are true champions. God Bless
I agree Natasha
Most athletes don’t get paid to represent their country at say the Olympic Games and so on. In football, players are almost always paid as an international standard.
In this case, the football body cannot pay its own athletes.
Should the Gov’t do so is the question…
They get paid to compete? Is that international standards?
Facilities, coaches, etc all the basic needs for athletes should be in place. We might not have the resources to have the most state of the art equipment but the basics never change.
All expenses are already met for this tournament by the organising body. Stipends and match fees are a different matter.
I agree, can’t be saying that you standing for accountability but u bending head over heels for the TTFA while other sporting disciplines suffering
All athletes expenses should be covered and stipends payed no excuses
Why limit it to just Pan Am? Pay every athlete, the same amount of course, that represents the country at an international event, whether junior or senior, individual or team sport, amateur or professional. How about that?
Equality across the Board
All athletes should be paid.
And our sweet country have billions of monies re – Life Sport and Mr. 2 Pull so I agree with Sheldon Scipio. Them really good yes.
No, Pay them all…footballers are not special.
I knew this payment thing would eventually get out a hand.
Pay All or none
For me, Ato, Bruce and Mark have said what needs to be said. There should be a clear policy either to pay or not to pay stipends to ALL athletes who represent the country but the policy must treat as well with compulsory rewards for anyone or any team winning a medal. But that speaks to system and organization and system and organization are anathema to our society in general and by and large to our sporting organisations in particular. In related news, did anyone see on the TV6 news that the TTCB has made an annual budget for $30m-plus? Talk about boldface, brother!
Not sure how we deal with this. Individual athletes get grants to prepare for games. In team sports individuals do not get grants. It is quite normal in team sports for players to get per diems and appearance fees. Does this place them in a financial advantage over individuals who receive grants? I am not sure, but certainly there should be some equity in what sportsmen get to represent their country. There should also be across the board incentives to national athletes for bringing home medals and success to our country in International games. I saw first hand how incentives worked for us in Baharain .
Equal opportunity and equal recognition shoul always be the goal.
No, if the agreement is between the TTFA and the players, the TTFA ought to pay. If they should be getting paid at all is a separate issue. I know the swimmer are not being paid a stipend to attend these Games. And I suspect some other athletes from other sports are also not paid