Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
“[…] Anyone who has gone through this process knows the folly of trying to select the ‘best’ 20 players out of 100s of young footballers who will turn up. Sometimes a gem has a bad day. Sometimes he is placed on a team with only strange faces and he hardly gets on the ball.
“Sometimes a not-so-good player has a good 10-15 mins and to the surprise of his teammates and coaches, he is selected…”
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
In the following Letter to the Editor, Trendsetter Hawks coach and former Trinidad and Tobago international midfielder Travis Mulraine suggests why the TTFA should abandon its dependence on screening for the selection of national youth teams:
Firstly, the method of selecting national youth players via screening sessions needs to be flung in the dustbin of football history.
Anyone who has gone through this process knows the folly of trying to select the “best” 20 players out of 100s of young footballers who will turn up. Sometimes a gem has a bad day. Sometimes he is placed on a team with only strange faces and he hardly gets on the ball.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Sometimes a not-so-good player has a good 10-15 mins and to the surprise of his teammates and coaches, he is selected.
The last screening I was involved in, the coach decided to play 20 minute games. I guess he was going with the mantra that you can spot a good player after 10 minutes.
Next, and most the importantly, the psychological trauma of being dropped—or should I say not selected—in front of 100s of players and parents can have a lasting negative impact on players.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
I know of colleagues from my era who would easily recollect the trauma of being dropped during a screening. Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTA) Safeguarding manager Gary St Rose and his team need to examine whether this screening thing should fall under their jurisdiction.
Lastly, coaches need to stop being lazy and get their asses to Republic Bank National Youth Football League, All Star Showcase, and City Cup (in July) games and take a proper look at players.
When professional teams are interested in signing a player, they have their scouts track him for weeks or months on end to see if he is consistent enough in his performances to warrant their investment in him.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
It’s time we get with the program.
“[…] Instead of relying on one-off screening sessions, the TTFA should establish a structured scouting network that monitors players across Read more
Spectacular finishes, peeved referees, animated coaches, penalties scored and missed, cheers and tears… There was nothing missing on Saturday as Read more
“[…] Two days ago, it came to my attention, via the TTFA Facebook page, that screening for U15 boys were Read more
“[…] Kaniel Davidson was more than just a player—he was the heartbeat of our team. A natural leader on and Read more
“[…] The government must do more than offer condolences. It must fund, support, and scale the grassroots programmes already working. Read more
“[…] Zwade Alleyne’s passing follows a senseless act of violence that has left us all grieving, outraged, and searching for Read more
Want to share your thoughts with Wired868? Email us at editor@wired868.com.
Please keep your letter between 300 to 600 words and be sure to read it over first for typos and punctuation.
We don’t publish anonymously unless there is a good reason, such as an obvious threat of harassment or job loss.
In response to Travis Mulraine’s thoughtful letter highlighting the shortcomings of screening-based selection for national youth teams, it’s clear that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) must move toward a more inclusive, consistent, and development-focused model of identifying talent.
1. A National Scouting Network Based on League Performance
Instead of relying on one-off screening sessions, the TTFA should establish a structured scouting network that monitors players across various competitions such as the Republic Bank National Youth Football League, the All Star Showcase, and the City Cup. Trained scouts would track players over the course of a season, evaluating not just technical skill, but consistency, teamwork, and attitude—attributes that a 10-minute screening cannot reliably assess.
Each region can assign dedicated scouts who compile performance reports and maintain a national player database, helping national coaches access a wide and reliable pool of talent for each age group. Players who are not immediately selected would remain in the system and continue to be monitored for future opportunities.
2. Community-Based Talent Discovery for the Undiscovered
Recognizing that some of Trinidad and Tobago’s most promising young players may be unable to afford club fees, travel costs, or may not attend a school with a football program, the TTFA should also launch a “Community Talent Search” initiative.
In partnership with local councils, schools, and NGOs, mobile scouting clinics would visit underserved areas—rural villages, inner-city communities, and fishing towns—bringing football directly to the youth who need it most. These informal sessions would allow children to play in familiar environments, free from the pressure of formal trials, while giving scouts the chance to spot raw, unpolished talent.
Promising players identified in these clinics can be invited to regional development hubs, where they would receive coaching, support, and even basic gear if needed, helping bridge the gap between raw potential and formal opportunity.
3. Safeguarding and Psychological Support
Finally, all scouting and selection processes must include safeguarding protocols, ensuring that youth are not emotionally harmed by rejection. Players who are not selected should receive feedback and guidance on what to improve and how they can re-enter the development pathway, keeping doors open rather than closed.
If the TTFA is serious about raising the level of football in the country, the solution isn’t a quick trial—it’s long-term investment in talent identification, community outreach, and player development. The next Dwight Yorke might not be in an academy—he might be barefoot on a backstreet field, waiting for someone to see him. Let’s build a system that finds everyone.