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When Trinidad and Tobago lifted the 2014 Under-20 Caribbean Cup trophy on October 19, head coach Derek King requested just one thing from his players. It was a message he delivered during the competition as well.
“As I told the players, if they can play at Pro League level it will be much better,” said King. “I am hoping to get Levi (Garcia) to play with (his present club) Central FC.”
Trinidad and Tobago’s toughest opponents at CONCACAF level would consist solely of players attached to professional teams and, without the funding for international tours, King stressed the importance of his players seeking out the most competitive arena possible.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
But, within 24 hours of his warning, seven of the eight Warriors eligible to represent their schools were back on the field in the SSFL Premier Division. Team captain Shannon Gomez quit St Augustine Secondary for DIRECTV W Connection but Levi Garcia (Shiva Boys HC), Matthew Woo Ling (St Anthony’s College), Josiah Trimmingham (San Juan North), Jabari Mitchell, Martieon Watson and Nicholas Dillon (all Naparima College) all lined up in the SSFL.
“I spoke to Levi right after the tournament finished but I don’t know if they are being pressured by their coaches or school teams or what,” King told Wired868. “When you watch the likes of Mexico or the USA and so on, their players are not playing for school teams…
“We said we don’t have a concern with them going back to school but the clubs would be lenient in allowing them time off to do that; and all of them agreed. But the next day we saw all of them playing school football.
“It is a major concern.”
But why would the players turn their backs on financial incentives and the advice of their national coach to play in an inferior league?
North East Stars coach Angus Eve, who also coaches Naparima College, put some of the blame on the Pro League for scrapping its under-20 competition, which means that players who did not make their first teams would have no competitive football.
Mitchell is a star for Naparima College but is yet to make an impact with the W Connection first team.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
And he suggested that, Garcia apart, most of the others would struggle to win a spot on the bench for their clubs let alone make it into the first team.
“Out of all the Pro League teams, North East Stars was the only one to actually play its national under-20 players last season,” said Eve, in reference to defender Jesus Perez and midfielder Neveal Hackshaw. “So I don’t see what all the fuss is about. Most of them would not have played anyway.”
Central FC managing director Brent Sancho, a former World Cup 2006 player, disagreed. He lost 16-year-old Garcia and 17-year-old Dillon to the SSFL and was adamant that the two had taken backward steps.
“The training that we do at the club level alongside players like (Ataullah) Guerra and (Marvin) Oliver, they can never find that in the Colleges’ league,” said Sancho. “We have seven players who can potentially be on the national team right now. It is training and testing yourself with these guys that will push them to the next level.”
Garcia is due to leave for Europe this week for a trial although, thus far, Central and the player’s new Dutch agent, Humphry Nijman, are on a collision course for the schoolboy’s services.
Sancho was unhappy with Eve too for supposedly failing to support his fellow Pro League counterpart on the club versus school issue.
Dillon is leading the charge for Naparima College in the SSFL Premier Division.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
“I must express my disappointment with Angus Eve as a head coach,” said Sancho. “As a Pro League coach, he should know better and should not be advising contracted players to play in school.”
Eve, whose “Naps” team is on top of the SSFL Premier Division at the moment, countered that he is not involved in his school’s recruitment drive and chided Central for signing minors.
“When I coach North East that is separate from Naparima and I have never tried to entice anyone to go to North East because that is unethical as they are all attached to schools,” said Eve. “Central should say why they signed a boy at 16 who is still in school and wants to finish school. I don’t think your mother would have let you sign a professional contract at 16…
“I do not approve of players who are 18 and over playing in the colleges’ league; that is my personal view on that. But Dillon is 17 years. Only (Martieon) Watson and (Amritt) Gildharry are 18 but they are in form six and academically inclined, whereas you have (St Anthony’s College player Matthew) Woo Ling jumping in and out of school…”
But are the players genuinely returning to school for their education?
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Sancho was sceptical and claimed that Dillon was on Central’s training ground for much of the year but is suddenly being considered a student again.
“It is sickening that eight months out of the year these players are nowhere near school and suddenly, when the schoolboy season comes around, they just walk back into school,” said Sancho. “The school clearly has no care for the player except for when school football starts. School football is failing these kids.
“There should be some sort of scholastic average of attendance minimum or something.”
Sancho said Central was prepared to compromise to allow its players to continue school while representing the club. But, as Pro League clubs generally train at morning when it is cooler, missing classes seems inevitable.
San Juan Jabloteh’s 17-year-old pair of striker Brent Sam and defender Josiah Trimmingham are representing San Juan North this season. And Jabloteh coach Keith Jeffrey must reluctantly wait until November to get them back.
Jeffrey explained how Jabloteh tries to minimise the disruptions for its schoolboys.
From right are his teammates Jabari Mitchell, Neveal Hackshaw and Jesus Perez.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
“Last season, I made to arrangement so that Sam could train with us on some mornings and I would drop him to school straight after,” said the Jabloteh coach. “Instead of 8 to 10 am, we would train from 7 to 9 am once Sam was going to be involved. He would come with his uniform and I would drop him to school straight after as we train 15 minutes away in Barataria.
“Sometimes we have evening sessions too and the club board has discussed having more evening sessions this season once the school league’s finished.”
But does that alternative give Sam enough of an opportunity to succeed at school?
St Augustine coach and teacher Michael Grayson was unimpressed when national under-20 captain Gomez, a lower six student, quit school altogether to join W Connection. In the process, he apparently turned his back on potential scholarships from Temple University and Virginia Tech.
“I told him he should do his SAT exams and go to university,” said Grayson, “because there is always the MLS and the other stepping stone leagues who scout college players… But he listened to other people instead.
“For me, it makes no sense for a player to go and work for $2,000 or $3,000 a month and hope to get a trial when you have the academic ability to get three, four or five passes. You can’t deny the kids their education because, in professional sport, anything can happen and it might not work out for you.”
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Grayson, a former national player and coach, helped develop the likes of Dwayne Demmin, Brent Bennett, Sherwin Siefert and the late Mickey Trotman, who all graduated from the SSFL to study in the United States. And he challenged the Pro League to either adjust their sessions to allow teenagers to continue at school or fall in line with FIFA’s guidelines for the coaching of minors, which means tutors or private schooling.
However, he admitted exceptions may be permissible when a gifted player seems unlikely succeed at his CXC exams.
“When you look at a guy’s SEA score and his school records over the years and so on, “ said Grayson, “you can tell if he is going to pass or not at 15 or 16. And then you might say ‘alright go ahead and do it and see if you can make it out there.’
“But, even then, you should have a Plan B, which, here in Trinidad, might mean a job opportunity in the army or with prisons, police and so on…
“Realistically, the pool isn’t deep with players who can make it outside. Yes, there are leagues like Vietnam and Thailand and so on; but, when you do your research, there are so many Africans on the streets in those countries who thought they could make it but didn’t.”
For every Yorke, though, there are hundreds of young footballers who never get the chance to earn a living from the game.
Naparima College assistant coach Travis Mulraine, who made his international senior debut at 18 and played professionally with MLS clubs San Jose Earthquakes and DC United, said he would do it differently if he had a second chance.
“As an ex-player who, at 37, has to go back to school to get a degree,” said Mulraine, “it is only right for me to advise these youngsters about a Plan B in case football doesn’t work like it did in my case.”
However, Mulraine agreed with Sancho that the SSFL should take more responsibility for educating its players.
“It’s time schools make it compulsory that student athletes have either a minimum level of academic competence or a skill/trade in order to play football after form five,” said Mulraine, “so as to ensure that, perchance they don’t make it to the professional level, they can make a living for themselves and their families and not have to depend on LifeSport and the likes.
“Of the hundreds of players that play school football, it’s only about 10 to 25 percent that go on to make a living off football.”
For several reasons, it appears that it will be some time yet before there can be harmony between the SSFL and Pro League entities.
Garcia scored a decisive penalty kick today against St Benedict’s College.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Editor’s Note: What do you think about the balance between educating students and developing them as footballers? Please let us know by leaving a comment below.
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bullsh*t Kevin Harrison, so because FIFA rules don’t spell out T&T allyuh feel thats a licence to exploit our young talent here, it applies all over. While I agree with u that funding is an essential part of development and our local clubs need time & money to get their act together don’t step on our players to accomplish your empire
Just to clarify, I posted the FIFA rules concerning the transfer of players under 18 because clearly, there were many misconceptions. There is no rule in place that says a Trini player with a Trini club must be educated. However, this is something that we at Central would like to see in the future. But the only way to accurately achieve this is to build a club academy that caters to both educational and academic skills. Many will know that this is a key element of Central’s developmental plan and land and some funding have been located. It’s a $20 million project that we have to raise on our own, so it may take a couple of years. Meantime, if a player wishes to leave school to play football, then that is his option. Levi Garcia chose football, while his brother Nathanial chose a scholarship route at the same age. Maybe, because that didn’t work for Nathanial, Levi chose football? Nice to see Mr Sosa pumping back $10,000 into local football! When you get to $250k per month, let me know!
Great story Lasana. This debate is long overdue. We need a group to look after the interest of our youths as they’re being exploited by Pro-League teams and agents who are looking to make a quick buck. They’re also being failed by school principals and school coaches who have no interest in ensuring they maximize their free education. Stakeholders from the Ministry of Education, the School Football League, the TTFA, the Pro-League, the Parent-Teachers Association, and even former athletes/students must get together to develop policies and guidelines to protect our youths from exploitation. No need to re-invent the wheel. These issues are not new and a number of solutions are available from our neighbors in the north (USA) and in Europe.
Instead of re-inventing the wheel why don’t they learn from some of the EPL clubs by mentoring these talented young ppl, assisting/encouraging them thru school while they also develop their footballing skills. They should not be paid at a young age.
The pro league has gotten better and will always be at a higher level that SSFL Lasana but the very fundamental which successful club football is based on is supporters and finance.And without that it can never go forward. I’ve always held the position that all clubs need to have their own finances(not sponsorship) and be able to stand as a business entity to go forward IE their own ground,control gate fees,vending and additional fundraising(selling of club paraphernalia) TOGETHER with sponsorship.At this level it will have a connect with geographical areas in the country rather than for eg North East Stars playing in Marvin Lee Stadium.Football without supporters its just a sweat which ever way you look at it.School football on the other hand in its current form is not far from what school football will ever be but for one thing it always has more supporters which makes it that that more exciting.
Its Better Dan d Pro League No money in it
That’s my point Arthlon Dcoach. We need the policies to be enforced so that this type of “madness” would not be happening. The Education system also has to develop policies with regard to sport & competition. Or else, we’ll be going across as you said.
Policies, rules etc, all of dat good but its the TTFA who needs to get off their asses and direct the way forward for football development, what is happening right now is all entities trying to do a part but in some instances its overlapping and instead of we going up we are going across
Policies, guidelines, rules, protocols…they are all lacking hence, the controversy. The saga will continue until logical and rationale policies are implemented and reinforced with the SSFL & ProLeague, other football bodies as well.
So technically, the “youth/student exploitation” conspiracy involves both club and school.
As I said before, the ProLeague should be our core focus for youth development and let the school’s supplement it. Not vicey versa.
I agree with most of Gordon Pierre
points.
I can tell u the SSFL is not failing their players, is the Coaches/Principals who want to win a trophy at any cost. within our rules if a student transfers from one school to d next to repeat form 5 he must have a minimum of 2 CXC passes. u kno wat schools are doing to get around dat? they are putting the student back in form 4 so as to say he dont need d 2 passes. That is why we have schools having to lose points when we become aware of it.
I will tommorow
Can you explain that further James Baird?
All that needs to happen is the clubs bring back the old YTS system, players then get educated and train pro, ec central coach Graham Rix was the Chelsea coach that ran there program for years. Its very succesful and allows for both education and acheivement. The ttpro league could institute it or the clubs. I myself went through it and got a good education and a good playing career.
Agreed, there is a lot than can be taken from this discussion. This should not just be about football. All sports. Set academic standards to play. Players should have to keep a Passing average to play! Certain amount of attendance for the year to be eligible for the next year.
Well said!
All these issues coming to the fore gives us a good chance to look at the different shortcomings to see what we can realistically change. I would hate for it to just be about bashing particular schools or clubs. This is potentially bigger than that.
Truthfully most of these kids playing in the SSFL looking for small glory and you can’t blame them. Hence the reason they are focused on football. However, a footballer’s playing career is relatively short. The player must or his parents must think long term by realizing education is the key to life’s success. Of course it’s probably easy for me to say that as I am a proponent of education but I once knew a national youth team coach who convinced everyone that they would get contracts after the youth WC and last I checked a handful at best made it and in reality only one or two really “made” it…
I’m happy that the school football and education discussion is happening. Once it is kept on the front burner we can put pressure on the SSFL to make the necessary changes. For far too long these young men have been used by coaches and not guided towards securing their qualifications/passes while they represent their schools. The NCAA requires student-athletes to maintain a certain GPA or else they aren’t allowed to play. This is to ensure that the players who participate in their competitions are equipped with a degree just in case they don’t ‘go pro’ or when their playing days are over. The SSFL needs to follow suit and ensure these footballers are on track to get a full certificate (5 passes), or some form of vocational qualification that will help them secure employment in case they fall into the large percentage who don’t make it to the professional level.
In my opinion, it’s in the best interest of players who can make the step up to play in the Pro League and not play in SSFL. With that being said, the Pro League also has to play its part in ensuring under 18 players in their clubs are qualified for a life outside of football in case their dream doesn’t work out.
On a final note, Pro League clubs should also look into encouraging some young players who are interested in pursuing tertiary education and playing football to do so at home by signing with them and enrolling at a local university. This way we keep some of our best talent at home and better monitor their development.
maybe the football should be played in the last term of the school year . A lot of the footballers come out of school as dummies ..I said it .
Well Levi situation I won’t comment on that because a lot of folks won’t speak to me after ….
Adrian those questions are irrevelant to my point! Central is to trying and stop levi move quoting fifa schooling laws while breaking those same laws with dillion and admitting such in d article. Whether d kids want to play is not d issue here.
Hacksaw and Perez both are students at the Arima North secondary form 5 students as well do they attend school?
Gordon these kids want to attend school or play club football ?
Uneducated individuals makes usually poor decision and lose money
And to adrain i am not attacking central just saying they brought up d fifa ruling on schooling for levi to try to stop his move but admit knowingly having dillion out of school! And if he is 17 now how old was he last june? Just saying!
Education is important. We have to remember the Pro League is young and Rome was not built in a day. So we are pushing Pro League teams to do the right things for their employees.
But there will be cases where they want to but just cannot afford it.
Then Gordon if you drop out you should not be allowed to play the next year.
Yes Borde but in both system things are put in place for education. In d SSFL football is an after school activity according to d ministry but we all know that is not so and nothing is done in most schools to help d guys catch up after the season so they drop out in d off season to start d process over d next year!
I can jump on both parties defense relating to this Nicholas Dillon scenario .Dillon signed with central FC last year June he trained June,July ,August and decided he will return to school to play football. I was responsible for writing the letter to Naparima principal for him to play .Dillon’s father accompanied him for all the meetings and he actually approached central FC about Dillon becoming a professional footballer .Dillon was part of the central FC youth team which was headed by crown trace.The point I am getting at is that we all speak about education and pro teams exploiting these youngsters but the truth and fact of this scenario is these young talented players attend school during the period September -November .i am one that promote education and there is a lot of youngsters that actually leave school to sign a pro contract because they don’t enjoy school .i think central FC have been fair in relation to this Nicholas Dillon scenario but again it’s his dream it’s the premiership and I guess he wanted to be part of it .central FC is the only club In this country that pays school boys more than 3,5 k not that it’s much but I am being real here when you watch at rangers FC their roster last season was school boys including Corbin so the question I am asking, here we are promoting education from the school perspective or are we happy with these youngsters going to school from September -November.
That’s an interesting idea Gordon . I like the idea to keep the team together. The trick will be to put them in a league that can challenge them as a team but not take away their NCAA eligibility
And i mean as a team not with teams as the last U20 that qualifier did!
Either way education is important!
Kirwin Weston jump in youth
An for d bigger picture in trinidad we need to understand what model
We are following d college model of d USA or the professional model of europe right now d SSFL is failing d lads both academically and for football! An the U20s need to stop playing SSFL forthwith and b registered to play either in the superleague or d proleague until they are ready for concacaf
Thank you Gordon that is always the case we does get righteous when its necessary, he talking shit about central fc doing so much 4 breast cancer and giving out hampers, and what mr Sosa giving back. Well allyuh using SIS money 2 fund those ventures, Humphry and I spending our money to help players and we take all the financial risk 2 help these boys. I gave Ryan Fredericks, a victim of the W connection sell you a dream project, 10000 tt of my money 2 assist him getting 2 Turkey in jan and at any hour these boys can call me 4 help and I am out the door regardless of where they are so don’t feed people this bullshit about we not giving back.
Lasana leave me alone na boi! Lol seriously though, u all heard what central said that they knowingly had Dillon out of school at age 17 with him not doing cxc once. but now they are quoting fifa rules for levi garcia about schooling!! Just as i said, trini legal quote d law when convenient!
Most clubs are not making money though. The reality is Pro League clubs are trying to survive too. Many times, I think the Pro League teams simply cannot afford to do better.
Remember it probably took the England top flight league decades to have proper academies and tutors and stuff. So I don’t want to only knock the Pro League for its shortcomings.
when these young students leave school at an early age to play for these local pro league teams who pay small money, there are lots to consider. you are not finishing your education for life after football, and god forbid and injury at age 16, 17 or even 18. is the club willing to see about this player if he cant find a job or even work due to his injury? i think most of the these clubs is all about making money at the top. at age 16 in trinidad a student should finish school cause there is nothing in trinidad football to make a living out off. for instance i would like to know how much is young garcia’s contract. i’m sure it’s small money and at 16 what he knows about signing contract. any young 16 year old without an adult supervision can be mislead
A…A… ah in the article lol…. all jokes aside Grayson is correct. Less than 1% of athletes make it to the pro level. I am not against a kid making a living in the pro league but it would be a penny wise and a pound foolish for “most” of these kids younger than 18 years old to throw away their options in the TTPL….
Where do I start Lasana Liburd lol
Officiating can also be called into question. Many kids are losing their zeal for the game as a result of terrible officiating affecting the results, and in some cases, their health. Keep writing man!!
Let just say I’ve been on a hiatus from finishing it…for a while…a loong while…I’m now restarting it so when I delve deeper into it we will talk…
Really? Tell us more Renee John-Williams
I’m actually doing my thesis on this…
Great article Lasana
oh boy
I’m happy that the school football and education discussion is happening. Once it is kept on the front burner we can put pressure on the SSFL to make the necessary changes. For far too long these young men have been used by coaches and not guided towards securing their qualifications/passes while they represent their schools. The NCAA requires student-athletes to maintain a certain GPA or else they aren’t allowed to play. This is to ensure that the players who participate in their competitions are equipped with a degree just in case they don’t ‘go pro’ or when their playing days are over. The SSFL needs to follow suit and ensure these footballers are on track to get a full certificate (5 passes), or some form of vocational qualification that will help them secure employment in case they fall into the large percentage who don’t make it to the professional level.
In my opinion, it’s in the best interest of players who can make the step up to play in the Pro League and not play in SSFL. With that being said, the Pro League also has to play its part in ensuring under 18 players in their clubs are qualified for a life outside of football in case their dream doesn’t work out.
On a final note, Pro League clubs should also look into encouraging some young players who are interested in pursuing tertiary education and playing football to do so at home by signing with them and enrolling at a local university. This way we keep some of our best talent at home and better monitor their development.
This issue is not as simple as it seems. Why do great boxers keep on fighting well beyond their best years? Why does Chanderpaul not call it a day? Why did Michael Jordan come back to basketball? Why doesn’t Rio Ferdinand, for example, just go out to pasture? There may well be very complex reasons for a whole lot of the behaviours we’re trying to explain and oversimplification is helping. Lasana, maybe you should talk next to a sports psychologist, a real one, not any of the charlatans who give themselves a title but…
I think that the pro league is the one robbing the youths for their own gain.If a player is under 18, I think they need to allow them to go to school and play school football (which is more competitive, exciting to watch and be a part of when compared to the stale tt pro league)There is life after football which demands that a person has to make a living after their professional career which FiFa recognized and put in the rules that clubs need to have academics/skills training for players under 18 which in our case we have school for that purpose.Schools in fact have many of the players get scholarships which increases both academic and footballing opportunities.The case of some of the guys not focusing on their academics at all in school only football ,that is the students’ decision which they will learn to regret in later years when their seemingly wonderfully future in football undoubtedly ends and it sinks in that they have no other means of income.
I think the Pro League has gotten better Marlon and the SSFL has dipped a bit. I don’t think school football is better than Pro League. It is true that more should be done the children’s education.
I suppose, in a perfect world, the schools would be like academies for the clubs. But then the clubs must train on evenings or at night and ensure the youths’ education does not suffer.