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“[…] Sadly, after raising and investing over a million dollars and helping thousands of youngsters and after donating thousands of pounds of hamper items, the tournament committee feels highly frustrated, harassed and disrespected.
“[…] As a result, the committee has decided to suspend all NLCL Community Cup tournaments for 2025, until a meeting with the TTFA President and/or Executive can provide a satisfactory outcome…”
The following press statement, which announces the temporary halt on all NLCL youth football competitions, was submitted to Wired868 by tournament director Brian Jordan:
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
For the first time since 2019, in a non-Covid year, the series of tournaments will not be held due to a Safeguarding Unit provisional suspension for the three-month period, November 2024 to February 2025.
Unfortunately, more than 400 footballing youngsters between Trinidad and Tobago would be affected in the U-19 age group; more than 300 would be affected in the U-15 boys age group, and just around 300 in the U-11 boys.
Having planned for U-15 girls, we would estimate just under 200 girls would be impacted. The tournament motto, Saving Our Youth Through Football, was born out of our collective Christian belief, and we would have built very positive relationships with youth teams and academies across the length and breadth of Trinidad and Tobago over the years.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
In a time when crime is at an all-time high and a nationwide state of emergency has been put into effect, many of the affected youth are from at-risk homes and would not have received the usually well stocked Holiday Hampers distributed each year, or the opportunity to develop and play the sport they love.
Players also will now not have the opportunity to play live on Flow Sports before an international audience, and/or to get their game film out to scouts from universities and other places to assist in advancing their fledgling careers.
It must be noted, the NLCL Community Cup organizing committee has been greatly supported by many sponsors over the years, inclusive of the Ministry of Sport and Community Development and the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago.
Other notable sponsors include Next Level Consulting Limited, Next Level Foundation, Brydens and Sons, Bermudez Biscuit Company, Massy Foundation, National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago, National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago, Ramsinghs Sports World, and Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
It is a fact that the Organizing Committee has written on several occasions to the current TTFA Executive, advising that the suspension is in breach of its own Safeguarding rules which categorically state the chairman of the Ethics Committee should issue a suspension, as well as, also to point out what many would view as an apparent conflict of interest.
Additionally, as it relates to the 90-day provisional suspension issued and the charge of “Failure to Co-operate”, the NLCL committee would have provided all documents requested by the TTFA Safeguarding Unit, as part of its responsibility to co-operate in all matters we deem critical to safety and security of our vulnerable youngsters.
Many would ask what is the status of the initial Safeguarding investigation which NLCL assisted with? Was it ever brought to a conclusion?
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
It is also a fact that at the time the suspension was issued, and to this date, no one has identified to tournament officials who is on the TTFA Ethics committee, or what are the protocols to be followed.
No one from the TTFA Executive has responded other than the President almost a month ago, to say the matter was referred to the Ethics Committee. As the saying goes, justice delayed is justice denied. Any reasonable person would deem this as unacceptable or unsatisfactory.
Furthermore, the tournament Organizing Committee has advised the TTFA executive of the inherent risks involved in an unfair and unjust process where one man serves as judge, jury and executioner.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Additionally, the NLCL committee had offered to sit with the TTFA Executive to ensure the processes and procedures currently in place could possibly be improved and would allow for fair and appreciably improved natural justice and due process, which the Committee feels is being denied in this instance.
Sadly, after raising and investing over a million dollars and helping thousands of youngsters and after donating thousands of pounds of hamper items, the tournament committee feels highly frustrated, harassed and disrespected.
Additionally, the Committee believes that the TTFA Safeguarding Unit did not practice the fundamentals of natural justice by being fair in processes, being transparent in actions, providing opportunity for our voice to be heard and being impartial in decision making.
Looking on are tournament organisers Brian Jordan (front right) and Germaine Jordan.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/Wired868
As a result, the committee has decided to suspend all NLCL Community Cup tournaments for 2025, until a meeting with the TTFA President and/or Executive can provide a satisfactory outcome.
We do not take this decision lightly, as we know the severe impact it may have on our national youth football landscape.
As a fully transparent Committee with nothing to hide, it is ready and willing to make committee members available to work collaboratively with the TTFA where necessary, to improve the TTFA Safeguarding Unit, which will inevitably yield benefits to all members and stakeholders.
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