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Trinidad and Tobago Pro League players are uneasy, “starting to panic,” one of them told Wired868. He and a couple of his mates are of the view that the Pro League had its work cut out for him to ensure that the competition stays afloat in 2018.
As things stand, there is as yet no word on the status of the League that should have started in the first week of March, Government has stopped its monthly TT$50,000 subvention to teams, the cash-strapped clubs—led by the defending champions—are talking about offering basic monthly salaries of TT$2,500-TT$3,000 across the board and one club owner has in fact gone so far as to say that Pro League players should look for other jobs; not instead of football but along with it!
Looking on (left) is Central FC utility player Tyrik John.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)
“In the last three days,” said veteran defender Yohance Marshall, who won last season’s Pro League with North East Stars. “I’ve received over five calls and over five different people message me (to find out the status of the League).
“People want to know what’s really going on in Trinidad and Tobago [football] right now […] A lot of players are panicking right now. And I’m not only talking about the players who are based in Trinidad. Players abroad who are thinking about coming back for a season or half-season too, these players are starting to panic.”
Just a few short months ago, the Derek King-coached North Stars unit celebrated their second Pro League title before their home fans at the Arima Velodrome and put an end to the developing W Connection/Central FC duopoly. It is an achievement which now leaves a bittersweet taste in the mouth of the 32-year-old Marshall and those who were associated with the Stars last season.
Like so many others, they are now out of contract, unable as they were to agree terms with Stars. A few key players from the team were lured away by Hydrotech Central FC to represent them in the opening phase of the Caribbean Club Championships contested a few weeks ago in Trinidad and the Dominican Republic.
Marshall affirms that the Stars, as defending champs, are “setting a dangerous precedent” for the rest of the League and so the players have reason to be concerned.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images)
It is a view shared by Densill Theobald, one of the triumphant Stars players who took up Central’s five-week contract offer. According to “Bleeder,” as the former India and Scotland-based midfielder is known in local footballing circles, the current goings-on in local football have given rise to an attitude of ‘hustling.’
“Yeah, it is [becoming a hustle],” the 35-year-old member of this country’s Germany 2006 World Cup team told Wired868. “And you have to make use of what you are faced with. […] In real footballing terms and in real footballing nations, these things are not possible. It’s not possible because what kinda stability are you talking about?”
He explained that the decision to represent Central made by him and by some other experienced players was an attempt to maintain some sort of pride for Trinidad and Tobago despite the financial challenges in the football arena at this time.
“Most players, if not all players, were out of contract at the end of the 2017 season,” Theobald said. “Now, we had a situation where W Connection and Central FC were the representatives for T&T in the CFU qualification stage. […] At Central, they could not do more than offer players a five-week contract because of their situation with the sponsorship. They are not going to contract a player from January to December when you are not sure about the Pro League status…”
(Copyright Alfonso Conde/CONCACAF)
Hydrotech, the title sponsors for 2017 Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) winners Guaya United, pumped roughly TT$250,000 into Central FC to help cover costs for the CFU tournament and, according to Central’s general manager David Muhammad, the two entities are in dialogue over long-term plans as well.
Central’s new sponsorship enabled them to secure the services of several players who had had the experience of representing Trinidad and Tobago at international level, including Cornell Glen, Theobald’s teammate at the FIFA World Cup in 2006.
But will Central secure sponsorship for the long haul as they greatly desire? And will other TT Pro League clubs raise the necessary finances to run their respective clubs efficiently for the 2018 season—assuming, of course, that there is going to be one.
On this last question, Marshall, Theobald and a third Pro League veteran—JP—who spoke to Wired868 on condition of anonymity, are far from certain.
“The way things are right now,” JP said, “I don’t think I would be able to put my head on a block. From my end, things are looking very, very shaky. What [Central FC managing director] Brent Sancho and they are talking about is really crazy. I know they are saying the players should understand the situation of clubs but it’s really, really crazy.”
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Marshall admitted that he does not know what his future holds and said that any decision he makes will be based on “the opportunity which is best for myself and my family.”
“It’s a real touchy situation when you look at it and it’s something that people have to come together to find the best resolution for,” said Theobald, who noted that he had returned to play professionally in Trinidad so as to be closer to his family. “[We need] to hear from the organization to hear the organization’s perspective in terms of why they could only offer TT$2,500 to $3,000 a month.”
Saying that his immediate future could lie with Central FC if both they and the League sort out their business affairs, he added this:
“We also need to understand it from a player’s perspective too, in terms of the commitment and sacrifices you are asking of a player to be professional with that kinda [salary] you’re offering players at the end of the month…”
The threesome agreed that it would be difficult for a player to make ends meet on a TT$2,500 to TT$3,000 monthly salary.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
“I think it’s difficult to even consider a $2,500 salary for a full professional,” said Marshall. “It’s almost impossible. I don’t think guys will want any part of that.
“They have to travel to a training session or fill up their tank with gas so much times for the week, maybe rent or mortgage or whatever. […] And this is outside of football. We aren’t talking about if you have to buy football boots yet; football boots alone is about $2,000…”
Like Marshall, JP is a former Central employee, who is also currently out of contract. He suggested that some clubs may have been using the financial situation to take advantage of the younger players.
“I think they bully the young players into taking contracts from May to December. The younger players definitely need to know how to deal with their own situations too. […] I saw it first-hand with the club I was with. I would just mention it to the manager but I cannot talk on a player’s behalf when it comes to negotiating their contract.”
Saying that the base salary at his last Pro League team would have been around TT$2,500 to TT$3,000 a month, he revealed that, at the upper end of the spectrum, some senior players were able to take home from TT$7,000 to TT$8,000 monthly.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)
A senior man with over 30 caps for Trinidad and Tobago, he insists he won’t be bullied.
“I definitely won’t sign a one-season contract from May to December,” he said. “I would like to sign a contract where I’m getting a salary in the off-season.”
“Right now, I’m not looking for anything overseas,” he added, “but if anything pops up, I will definitely take up the offer.”
But Marshall’s experience in Mexico with Murciélagos might raise a red flag.
“It’s coming down to crunch time and a lot of leagues are starting up,” the national player told Wired868. “Players are wondering if they have to take this money being offered in the Pro League. People don’t want to take this $2,500 because it’s basically no money.”
Marshall noted, however, that similar things were happening “all over the world” and explained that he had left the club because salaries were not always paid on schedule.
“It happened to me in Mexico,” he said, “hence the reason I left. They were not paying on time. You have to be able to take it—or try to take it. But sometimes it becomes unbearable….”
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
Marshall explained that the straw that breaks the camel’s back is not receiving a salary below what you think you are worth; it is, the former Murciélagos central defender said, knowing that you are being paid below your proper grade and still not getting your money on time.
According to him, this is the real reason it was difficult to get players to focus solely on football for much of last season.
“If a man know he’s going to get his salary on the fourth of the month, then he would be good because he’d be expecting his money at that time,” Marshall explained. “If he has bills, he could pay them. But sometimes you are not sure when you are getting your salary so men guessing.”
“Yuh could tell a man don’t focus on that,” he ended, “but sometimes there are brothers who are in extreme need of the little bit of money they are already collecting. So there is only so much you could do.”
Editor’s Note: Click HERE to read Part Two as Pro League players talk to Wired868 about the issues dogging the top flight competition and suggest possible remedies. These interviews were conducted before CEO Dexter Skeene quit his post on Friday 2 March.
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Roneil Walcott is an avid sports fan and freelance reporter with a BA in Mass Communication from COSTAATT. Roneil is a former Harvard and St Mary’s College cricketer who once had lofty aspirations of bringing joy to sport fans with the West Indies team. Now, his mission is to keep them on the edge of their seats with sharp commentary from off the playing field.
Better to become an ultra bespoke tailor.
Better to get a scholarship and ply your trade outside
The game of football like any sport should be treated as a career and business and renumeration packages to players and staff must be to a standard akin to other leagues in the region. How in 2018 you watching a pro league player and paying him 2700 dollars what league in the world does this. What league in the world plays 16 to 20 games a season . The approach to sport has to change
I will say we need to do something in this country to bring back the football because people in this country don’t value football again there are a lot of talented players in this country and what are we doing what are u paying them come on heads you all can do plenty better please.
Meanwhile…….
It have windball cricketers making more than that in central…..
Hahaha y’all now knowing how it is ….. shameful eh … I does see these youths running down pro league if they only knew eh …some you tell them but they still won’t listen
This is why Trinidad and Tobago will always be look upon as a third world nation and talk as one too. The mindset of the Officials running these leagues and programs out for their pockets and not nurturing the young talent to compete with the young Messi’s, Ronaldo’s, and Neymar’s of the world. They stifling our young talent all these billion dollar budgets and nothing in place to pay the players well enough to take care their needs at least. Geez and you guys get mad when international celebrities mention us as Third world. What you expect and our leaders is allowing it to stay that way. One of or may be the riches Caribbean country with all these natural resources, and can’t fund our leagues & athletes good. Sad yes
Then they wondering why talent not reaching to the top ranks….
Them want u to train morning evening and night for 2500 or 3000 a month that is madness
Save from what ?
That was my thought as well lol
Do you know over 400 million pass thru Jabloteh during the cl financial days now they don’t even have a ground a team bus nothing at all
Jabloteh is a rare example tho, and I haven’t seen any proof or heard any report suggesting that the figure quoted is accurate
Ok what about the millions pass thru w connection and central fc
Sis real pump money into central fc
Both of the latter have grounds
What grounds they have
The millions that passed thru said clubs did benefit the players, I represented a few and wages were over 14k for several, the problem doesn’t stick with only expenditure but the return, the books couldn’t be balanced.
There’s a limited market
Alyuh some of us was getting less
It’s madness then an now
Pro is short for professional. Professional means that you receive payment for your services in that field that you have signed up for. In the NCAA one is debarred from receiving any incentive whatsoever because such incentives violate the notion of amateurism. As a former Athletic Director of Universities in the US under both the NCAA and NAIA umbrella, I can tell you that some of the rules, at a glance, suggest unreasonableness. But when you explore the repercussive effects of these violations and the potential for spillovers, you come to understand their need to exist. It appears that what we have in our Pro-league should be something more like what I had been involved when I was the Head Coach of the Jackson Chargers, a USL, amateur league, where college student-athletes, in their off-season were given living accommodations and a meal stipend. Further, expenses for these student-athletes’ travels for away games (and home) were permitted. But what I am understanding here is that, TT$2,500.00 to TT$3000.00 is what the average salary is projected to be and this payout is both, insufficient and offensive. Maybe, these clubs should contemplate investments that would be more frugal in the mediate and longer runs that might align with this type of cost and expenditure pattern as with, the Chargers’ modus operandi. Hey, it’s only a partially opened, small-window, suggestion. Pro-league on no Pro-league or a league of any other label, football must go on or, we might as well, warm-kiss crime and embrace it as a part of our everyday lives. If Keith Lookloy has a solution and I believe that he has such an understanding, let him take the lead.
…
Sean it has to be that way because them fools spend and spend never saving for a rainy day
I remember Joe Public offer me $2700 a mth….i laugh an went lookin 4 a job di next day
Wages dropping while cost of living rising..how can you attract quality employees(players).
$2500 = Disgraceful… that can’t do anything for anyone I’m afraid
I think it’s okay for a floor or starting point for young players just out of school and still in their parent or guardian”s home, but cap has to be in line with a living wage.
Not even a semi pro will work with that , they mad !
Reason why at the age of 18 wen i was offered 1200 i stuck to hustling at ispat….
This is really hard for me to see our football has come to this point. very disappointing. Where the money that governments normally give to sports. corporate Trinidad will never support something that’s not beneficial to them or the companies, but players has to market their self better
Curious how would you suggest players market themselves better ?
Colin Benjamin first cut out the minor league playing if u play in those type of match’s for free no one will want to pay to see you play. Second create a profile in the communities be role model don’t drink or smoke in front the kids market your self on social media. U can’t want to be a professional player and live like others
Good points Conrad players need to set better examples be role models which can get endorsement deals etc for additional income
Maybe transition players from SSFL faster into teams, like a Draft with an ‘Internership/job. At 17-19 they should be able to make the switch and pull their SSFL fans into Community Clubs
Endorsement deals where Dion?
Brian we have local firms who manufacture stuff
We know that. Who have they endorsed before from local football leagues? I am curious.
..They talk a lot but..
Before I endorse you, you have to be featured somewhere where millions, ok, thousands will see my endorsee, and therefore my $$ spent will make sense. That is advertising money, what is the ROI. A player will need to show how many people see him weekly, where he seen by these 10s of thousands, how often, and what age group pays attention to me.
They therefore are at the mercy of the league for too many parameters.
Sidenote : SSFL fans do not have monies to spend on products, not a viable age group to appeal to.
Sheldon, not necessarily. Many of the fans of some schools are business people and very family oriented. It’s not just the school age folks. Also, school age folks have their parents buy large amounts of merchandise, from clothing, shoes to cellphones, laptops and tablets. There are some opportunities, but I just don’t see the T&T businesses going in that direction.
Many?
Who attends those games regularly?
Are they willing to put their money?
You need to research that, schools struggle for finance, so where are they?
That’s my point. It’s premature to say they don’t have the monies. More studies would have to be done
In addition the same players go Pro, and then POOF, where does the support go.
Some schools have financiers, they support their alma mata, not the players.
It does not translate to going Pro
You leave SSFL, and transition, your fan-base does not necessarily transition also, hence schoolboy pro teams also have no fans.
Culture is developed over time. There is no culture of player centric support here. It’s more school centric. Many of the schools are supported financially more so than some pro teams. Club Sando is probably a model that is in essence school to Pro with Naps old boy business men supporting the school and owning and supporting the Pro League team. Players from school play mostly there and it seems to work well there. Will it work elsewhere? More studies would have to be undertaken for sure.
Unfortunately we can’t wait to develop a culture to run a pro league
Agreed. That’s why the Club Sando model was referenced
We need to create a culture.
Was the T20 culture left to develop, or was it created.
We already have football crazy fans,
What about the EPL draws them towards it.
Ask that question
Is it vecause they can into the lives of the players on and off the pitch?
Is it because of proper marketing?
Is it because of the way the players, teams and managers are presented?
Answer those questions, and you already have football hungry fans right here.
That will take a properly unbiased survey.
Maybe we can start there
Nice points Sheldon Scipio Brian Jordan
..Yet with that we were undisputed Caribbean Kings and in the Hex. Today with men in Cambodia, India, El Salvador, Kazakhstan, USL, etc, we can’t beat anybody. So….
Back to semipro
Fire, t&tec
Back to the days of united petrotrin, WASA, police, army..where men got a salary frm the company and were seconded to football
Back to the days ah man training after wuk…at least we have lights in grounds now…smh
This has been going on for years, some clubs have been paying this for years, and we wonder why the players show up in minor league for monies.
This league needs to be scrapped and a new model found.
As it is, I dare anyone to show me how it is any better than Super League, which is purely administrated better.
Problem with new model is same people…
..This is the reality that the moniker “Pro League” has been poorly masking for years. When you say that certain TTPL spokesmen jump out at you to defend this absolute foolishness. Meantime, the emperor fiddles. Let’s see what comes next..
At this point it would be unconscionable for the pro league to attempt a start this season
Just like the NASL in USA who just cancelled their season – we have reached a stage where the bigger picture of securing leagues long term future via some means is more important than playing in 2018
Sad state but the reality from a business point is how many players cover even half their wages through gate receipts, tv rights or fan merchandise. [Not denying players don’t work hard] The whole things needs a restructure and a plan.
Cepep pays more…. sigh