Dear Editor: Mulraine is right; TTFA must invest in talent identification

“[…] Instead of relying on one-off screening sessions, the TTFA should establish a structured scouting network that monitors players across various competitions such as the Republic Bank National Youth Football League, the All-Star Showcase, and the City Cup.

“Trained scouts would track players over the course of a season, evaluating not just technical skill, but consistency, teamwork, and attitude—attributes that a 10-minute screening cannot reliably assess…”

The following Letter to the Editor on ways in which the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) can improve on talent identification for its national youth teams was submitted to Wired868 by Betterment:

In response to Travis Mulraine’s thoughtful letter highlighting the shortcomings of screening-based selection for national youth teams, it’s clear that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) must move toward a more inclusive, consistent, and development-focused model of identifying talent.

1. A National Scouting Network Based on League Performance

Instead of relying on one-off screening sessions, the TTFA should establish a structured scouting network that monitors players across various competitions such as the Republic Bank National Youth Football League, the All-Star Showcase, and the City Cup.

Trained scouts would track players over the course of a season, evaluating not just technical skill, but consistency, teamwork, and attitude—attributes that a 10-minute screening cannot reliably assess.

Each region can assign dedicated scouts who compile performance reports and maintain a national player database, helping national coaches access a wide and reliable pool of talent for each age group.

Players who are not immediately selected would remain in the system and continue to be monitored for future opportunities.

2. Community-Based Talent Discovery for the Undiscovered

Recognising that some of Trinidad and Tobago’s most promising young players may be unable to afford club fees, travel costs, or may not attend a school with a football program, the TTFA should also launch a “Community Talent Search” initiative.

In partnership with local councils, schools, and NGOs, mobile scouting clinics would visit underserved areas—rural villages, inner-city communities, and fishing towns—bringing football directly to the youth who need it most.

These informal sessions would allow children to play in familiar environments, free from the pressure of formal trials, while giving scouts the chance to spot raw, unpolished talent.

Promising players identified in these clinics can be invited to regional development hubs, where they would receive coaching, support, and even basic gear if needed—helping bridge the gap between raw potential and formal opportunity.

3. Safeguarding and Psychological Support

Finally, all scouting and selection processes must include safeguarding protocols, ensuring that youth are not emotionally harmed by rejection. Players who are not selected should receive feedback and guidance on what to improve and how they can re-enter the development pathway, keeping doors open rather than closed.

If the TTFA is serious about raising the level of football in the country, the solution isn’t a quick trial—it’s long-term investment in talent identification, community outreach, and player development.

The next Dwight Yorke might not be in an academy; he might be barefoot on a backstreet field, waiting for someone to see him.

Let’s build a system that finds everyone.

Editor’s Note: The TTFA had Talent Identification programmes of some sort under three of four of its previous leaders: William Wallace, David John-Williams, and Raymond Tim Kee.

In the latter two cases, the programmes became inactive as funding was diverted to other areas, while the ideas of the Wallace-led football body were stillborn due to normalisation.

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