Less than 72 hours before the Concacaf Boys’ Under-15 Championship kicks off across Costa Rica, Aruba and Curaçao, the Trinidad and Tobago outfit remain in Trinidad without a departure date. The Concacaf Championship kicks off on Saturday while the Trinidad and Tobago National Boys’ Team open their campaign on Monday …
Read More »Dear Editor: What every parent, coach, and young athlete should know about OSD
“[…] Osgood-Schlatter Disease (OSD) is an overuse injury that affects the tibial tuberosity, which is the small bump just below the kneecap where the patellar tendon of the quadriceps muscles attaches to the shinbone. “It’s most common in children and teens between 10 and 15 years old, during periods of …
Read More »Dear Editor: How to build fitter, smarter and more resilient athletes
“[…] One of the most common causes of injury in the preseason is the sudden increase in training intensity. Coaches must resist the common temptation to cram fitness into a short window. “[…] Coaches in Trinidad and Tobago must create an environment where players feel comfortable speaking up about pain, …
Read More »Dear Editor: A full stadium in a half-broken country; what T&T game meant to poor families
“[…] Far less visible [than the upper tier citizens at yesterday’s World Cup qualifying match], was a single, unemployed mother from one of our struggling communities, who had made an extraordinary effort to bring her young son to the game. “[…] Whether by sacrifice, missed bills, or borrowing, she gave …
Read More »Dear Editor: Caribbean FAs, like TTFA, can never get sustained success from Fifa grants
“[…] Dependency on global and regional football authorities, and government funds disempowers football leaders in these associations. Leaders often find themselves constrained by the conditions attached to grants or by the pressure to align with donor priorities rather than focusing on their country’s specific football needs. “[…] This dynamic can …
Read More »Dear Editor: Five things that will help improve T&T football
“[…] The administration should set in place a programme to begin teaching the youngsters the technical aspects of the game. “In my opinion, we have ‘fly by night’ coaching schools that suck thousands of dollars from parents with false promises. These coaching schools should be run by licensed coaches…” The …
Read More »Noble: Where’s youth sport support? They want nice corn soup—but won’t invest in planting corn
The following is part two of an interview with FC Santa Rosa founder and head coach and ex-Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy interview: Clubs no longer have roots in their communities. This uprooting leaves room for other institutions, like gangs, to attract young …
Read More »Noble: Rebuild T&T through sports—the untapped potential of elite and grassroot football
Natasha Wilson’s words came to me while reflecting on my interview with Keith Look Loy. In significant ways, her calypso summed up Keith’s sentiments: Sweet T&T, is my country/ I want you to know that I love you/ Every creed and race, have an equal place/ So let’s work together …
Read More »New TTFA exec set to veto National U-17’s Florida tour plans for Jamaica outing
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) is poised to change the travel plans of its Men’s National Under-17 Team in what looks to be the first meaningful change of the new Kieron Edwards-led executive. The young Soca Warriors were due to depart today for a seven-day camp in Florida. …
Read More »PUFA’s Gothia adventure: Claims of discrimination, safeguarding concerns, and missing documents
In February 2023, immediately after receiving official word of their successful application to participate in the 16-22 July Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, Powerful United Football Academy (PUFA) owner Nyron Jones began work on getting his team to the event. The aim was to take 33 boys plus staff and …
Read More »Radanfah: Maximising Levi’s talent, why Natty’s a dread attacker and T&T’s inhibited talent pool
“[…] Trinidad and Tobago players are limited in their exposure to top level football [and] it makes it difficult for us to compete with teams who have players playing at that level. I don’t like to get into people’s selection, you can’t carry everybody—but I think [Angus Eve’s] selections are …
Read More »Dear Editor: The Republic Cup NYFL can and should do better than this
“[…] The fields that are being used offer little or no amenities for players, especially females, and supporters—not even water. Shame. “[…] We have players registered with one club appearing for another club, and indeed, I know of at least one professional player who has appeared in the East U20 …
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