“It’s a way to save lives!” T&T community football coaches discuss working in the trenches

In Trinidad and Tobago, community football clubs often operate far beyond the realm of sport.

In neighborhoods where violence, poverty, and social challenges persist, these clubs represent more than just a place to play. They are sanctuaries where young people find discipline, mentorship, hope, and sometimes even salvation.

For many youths growing up amid fractured families, economic hardship, and the ever-present threat of crime, football clubs provide a structured environment that can redirect their path towards opportunity and growth.

Behind the scenes, though, these clubs struggle daily against resource constraints, limited institutional support, and the realities of the environments in which they operate.

To gain insight into this vital, yet often overlooked, aspect of Trinidad and Tobago’s football culture, Wired868 spoke with coaches Devon Smart of Northstars from Mason Hall in Tobago, Sheldon De Freitas of T&T Maestros from Barataria, Jason Paul of Carrat Shed Foundation from San Fernando, Wayne Sheppard of the Arima Araucans Academy from Arima, and Patrick Sambrano of Kamillionaire FC in central Trinidad:

Wired868: What is the main role of your club in the community?

Devon Smart (Northstars FC): Our club serves as a safe, positive outlet for young people. We promote discipline, teamwork, and personal development through sport, while also offering a sense of family and belonging. It’s about building character, not just athletes.

Sheldon De Freitas (T&T Maestros): Originally, the objective was to produce top-tier international footballers. But it has evolved into something much deeper. Now, it’s an avenue for education and, on a more fundamental level, a way to save lives.

Jason Paul (Carrat Shed Foundation): To take youths off the streets and build them up.

Wayne Sheppard (Arima Araucans Academy): Initially, when we set up Arima Araucans, the main aim was to provide the necessary developmental work that clubs obsessed with winning tournaments were skipping.

Over time, while that still remains our primary footballing objective, we’ve also come to see a strong commitment to discipline and leadership as essential tools that will serve the boys well on the field—and more importantly, in life. So, we insist on both.

Patrick Sambrano (Kamillionaire FC): The name Kamillionaire comes from the chameleon. Change is what it’s about. When I started this club, it was to impact and change lives, from amateur to professional—or just to help someone find direction.

W868: What are some of the biggest challenges you face running your club?

Smart: Funding is always a major issue—whether it’s for equipment, uniforms, or transportation. We also struggle with limited access to proper training facilities. Beyond that, keeping youth consistently engaged can be tough when they face pressure from difficult home situations or lack of encouragement.

De Freitas: One of the biggest challenges is the single mother scenario, where fathers are noticeably absent. This has a serious negative domino effect on many boys. There’s also the lack of financial resources and weak parental support, which can push some into crime.

Paul: Funding, especially government funding and support.

Sheppard: The biggest challenge is always consistent attendance by the boys. Many times, it’s based on economic difficulties in their households—and in those scenarios, football training understandably isn’t a priority.

But other times it’s simply a lack of understanding and discipline, where they don’t grasp the importance of attending every training session. It mirrors what we see with school attendance in these communities: boys might go to school three times a week and think that’s enough. It really isn’t.

Gaps in learning, whether in the classroom or on the field, eventually affect their ability to grasp more complex concepts. That’s something we work hard to address.

Sambrano: The support from parents. A lot of our kids come from single-parent homes and it’s tough, especially when there’s no father figure. Some struggle even to get football boots. But we make it work. We don’t charge to train with us.

W868: How does crime or violence in the area affect your team?

Smart: It can be very disruptive. Some players are directly affected—they might miss training due to safety concerns or emotional stress. It also affects attendance at events or matches, especially if parents are hesitant to let their kids travel. We often act as a support system, helping them cope and stay on track.

De Freitas: It affects us directly. Players can’t move around or play freely in their communities because of criminal elements—even in or near designated playing areas. Sometimes the fields have to be abandoned temporarily due to safety concerns.

Paul: Many players live in depleted communities, so we need to finish training early enough so they can get home safely.

Sheppard: Our training base is at the Arima North Secondary School, and thankfully, we’ve never had any incidents of violence there. So, our day-to-day operations are not directly affected.

However, our boys come from as far east as Sangre Grande and from communities like Maloney, La Horquetta, Maturita, and Malabar—areas where violence is a real part of life. Sadly, we’ve recently lost two boys who weren’t even the intended targets of gun violence.

So, while our sessions may not be affected logistically, we live in constant fear of getting that call to say one of our boys was injured or worse. That fear is very real for us.

Sambrano: It affects us a lot. When youths grow up in hotspots, they’re impressionable and tempted by the fast dollar. Parental guidance is lacking, and it’s hard. But I believe sport is the best way out. Every youth deserves love and nurturing.

W868: What does success look like for your club beyond just winning games?

Smart: Success is when a player who once lacked confidence begins to lead. It’s when a teen stays in school, avoids negative influences, or gets a scholarship through sport. Our greatest wins are in their growth, maturity, and ability to dream beyond their circumstances.

De Freitas: True success isn’t just about winning. We want football to open doors—whether that’s higher education, employment, or professional play. More importantly, we want to help shape happy, productive, law-abiding young men who see possibilities beyond their circumstances.

Paul: Training with more than 30 players every day, knowing they come from tough backgrounds.

Sheppard: Success, for us, is seeing our boys earn scholarships or successfully transition into the working world—especially if they can continue playing football at some level.

We’ve had boys selected for zonal and national teams, and that’s always a proud moment. But the bigger win is watching them secure educational or job opportunities that can positively alter their life path. That’s what real success looks like to me.

Sambrano: Beyond winning, it’s education. I run a student-athlete programme. In the last five years, several players got scholarships. Some were heading down the wrong path, but turned around through football. That change means more than trophies.

W868: What kind of support would make the biggest difference for your club?

Smart: Consistent financial support would help us cover basic needs like gear, field rentals, and transportation. But mentorship programs, educational workshops, and mental health support would also make a huge impact. It’s about developing the whole person, not just the athlete.

De Freitas: Proper maintenance of playing fields including lighting, more training equipment, expertise in strength and conditioning and nutrition. Financially, paying coaches stipends, outfitting teams, and supporting international tours to learn and compete globally.

Paul: Funding is not everything, but if TTFA, Fifa, and the government reached out more, football would grow. For example, we had to cancel a trip to the Saint Lucia Youth Cup because we could not secure funding for airfare and accommodation despite training all year. We raised funds through donations but did not get government support. Some kids can’t even afford socks. I try to help as best I can, but I cannot do it alone.

Sheppard: Right now, the Araucans programme is in dire need of financial support. Our coaches have been very understanding—we’re only able to pay them when we get money from fundraisers or occasional sponsorships, usually at the end of the season.

Araucans have always been a ‘labour of necessity’ because we understand the alternative paths that await many of these boys, and those paths aren’t promising.

We’d love for corporate Trinidad and the wider community to come onboard and assist. That support would go a long way. We’ve taken the necessary steps to ensure sponsors can benefit from tax breaks through our registration.

Our academy is free to all our players. We only ask that they give us effort and discipline, because we understand the financial hardships that many of the players in our catchment areas feel. We’re ready to partner with anyone who sees the value in what we’re trying to do.

Sambrano: Financial support is critical. Clubs need help to expose players internationally. But funding is hard. We often have to cut our own field. Sponsors are hesitant, and the government could do better.

This isn’t just football, it’s social work. Yet we keep going, because we see our lives changing.

W868: Have you seen any positive impact on youth involved at your club?

Smart: Yes! Ammari Alleyne, who now plays for Phoenix FC, is also a joiner. Tyrel Sandy, aka ‘Pogba’, works at T&TEC. Jerven Gunn works in the health sector. Through the club, these boys found structure and people who believed in them. They also assist with coaching if needed.

De Freitas: Without a shadow of a doubt. Ronaldo Jacob from Pashley Street, Laventille joined our academy at four years old. He represented St Anthony’s College, then Trinity College where he played in the SSFL.

Later, he earned a football scholarship to Lyon College in the USA, led them to two back-to-back titles after 25 years, graduated, and now works there as an administrator and coach.

Paul: Yes. Some had never played football before and now excel. We also work with San Fernando East to keep players in school.

Sheppard: Absolutely, we’ve seen major positive impacts. The most immediate is improved school attendance and discipline.

Playing for the club is used as the carrot to encourage effort and accountability. We’re big on developing leaders, not just followers. I can say with confidence that we are producing more boys who rely on their own moral compass to guide their decisions rather than blindly following a crowd.

That’s a huge sign of our impact. And that’s the kind of change we hope to continue fostering at Araucans.