TTFA gives US$125k boost to cash-strapped Pro League and Super League competitions


The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) continued its charm offensive to local stakeholders today with a US$125,000 (TT$837,000) boon to the local Pro League and Super League competitions to help with their administrative efforts for the upcoming season.

The Pro League is the top tier of the domestic game while the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) organises the second and third tiers respectively.

Photo: Defence Force players (from right) Jamali Garcia, Justin Garcia, Curtis Gonzales, Thurlani George, Jerwyn Balthazar, Rodell Elcock and Chris Durity react to teammate Devorn Jorsling’s successful penalty kick during the Pro Bowl final at the Ato Boldon Stadium on 19 February 2017.
Defence Force edged Central FC 5-3 on kicks from the penalty mark after a 2-2 draw.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)

TTFA president David John-Williams announced today, via the TTFA Media, that the FA will give US$100,000 (TT$669,000) to the Pro League and US$25,000 (TT$168,000) to the TTSL. The offer, which was approved by the board, comes just a week after the TTFA provided lodging for both bodies, along with the local women’s league, referees association and Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL), at its new headquarters in the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

The national stadium was made available to the TTFA by the Ministry of Sport and the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago.

“Now that our football has a home, we must now look at the economic and administrative stability of our stakeholders,” said John-Williams. “[…] For us to progress, every arm of football must become professional in their operations and we at the TTFA are committed to driving this process.”

John-Williams, who was elected TTFA president in November 2015, is also the owner of top Pro League outfit, W Connection, which is being run by his daughter Renee John-Williams at present. The Pro League season is expected to kick off on Friday 9 June while the TTSL gets going two days later on Sunday 11 June.

The TTFA’s generosity is due in part to a massive increase in FAP funding from FIFA under new president Gianni Infantino.

At present, the local football stands to collect an annual sum of US$750,000 (TT$5.02 million), which is three times the US$250,000 fee (TT$1.67 million) paid to national associations by Infantino’s predecessor, Sepp Blatter.

Photo: FIFA president Gianni Infantino (right) and TTFA president David John-Williams at a press conference at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on 10 April 2017.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
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25 comments

  1. So the zones has nothing to get

  2. Nice nice…moving forward

  3. He pledging money the TTFA actually have or about to get?! Cause with the amount of outstanding bills on their desk……

  4. The regular police officer when he passes away the whole police band is at the funeral service playing music compared to when a SRP (something resembles a police) passes away only half of the band is present eh in other words they don’t get the same benefits but they are also risking their lives everyday. Them really good yes steeeuuppss

  5. So why is d Super League gettin way less money dan d Pro League?? Isn’t d Super League under d management of d TTFA….while d Pro League is separate an apart from d TTFA??? Dais like a father giving d neighbour child more spending money for school dan his own son…smh

  6. The professional league owners pay plenty monies for our players to play for them eh and the majority of the players in the Super League competes for free. Them really good yes hahaha

  7. Still a conflict of interest. There are more teams in super league than pro league. Wouldn’t it stand to reason the admin costs are higher with more teams?? Would love to hear rationale why the Pro league got 4 times more than the Super league.

  8. And some of Alyuh is always saying this and that about my dictator president eh, well done my president, and once you keep on the straight and narrow road you surely will be elected for another 4 years eh. Them really good yes

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