TTFA, Pro League, TTSL and WOLF move to Ato Boldon Stadium; O’Brien re-elected

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) will officially start operating out of the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on 1 June 2017, as the first part of its relocation process during the construction of a National Training Centre in Couva.

Land for the National Training Centre has been sourced by the Government—just a stone’s throw from the Ato Boldon Stadium—while FIFA approved the funds for its development.

In the meantime, the TTFA has been allowed to take full advantage of the Ato Boldon Stadium and has offered office space to the Pro League, TT Super League (TTSL) and Women’s League Football (WOLF), which all falls under its aegis.

The local football body believes a centralised location for the major football bodies will: help streamline its operations and facilitate engagement with key stakeholders—including other FIFA member associations and local bodies.

“We are thankful to the Ministry of Sport and Sportt Company for fulfilling their promise to support football by providing us with the facility,” TTFA president David John-Williams told the TTFA Media. “I think it is a tremendous accomplishment to have the key stakeholders in local football under one roof.

“It augers well for the development of the game here in Trinidad and Tobago and it is an indication of the administration’s drive and ambitions to take the game to greater heights and with the inclusion of the stakeholders.”

Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene suggested that the TTFA’s vision in bringing the major stakeholders together under one roof would “go a long way in improving the local game.”

While TTSL interim president Keith Look Loy said his fledgling body was “pleased to have finally received recognition from the TTFA.”

“TTSL now has a permanent home from which to operate and to develop the League,” said Look Loy, “and we thank the TTFA for having facilitated this.”

WOLF president Sharon O’Brien suggested that the move was a positive step for the women’s game.

“The fact that WOLF can now have an office from which we can conduct our business is a definite boost for the league and for local women’s football,” said O’Brien. “This will help us tremendously in carrying out our day to day operations  and will be a positive step towards growing and developing the league, particularly from an administrative standpoint.”

O’Brien was returned as WOLF president in a hotly contested election on 24 May, when she was challenged by former national women’s manager Vernetta Flanders.

The current WOLF executive is: Sharon O’Brien (president), Sharon Warrick (vice-president), Jamiyla Muhammad (general secretary), Beverly Ambris Bateau (treasurer), Lisa Jo Ramkissoon (assistant secretary—operations), Harvey Jack (Tobago) (assistant secretary—administration), Claire George (assistant secretary—competitions), Rayana Boswell (public relations officer), Annalise Collette (ordinary member) and Brandon Williams (ordinary member).

Collette and Jack both represent Tobago.