Lawrence urges Flow youth footballers to dream big

Lawrence was speaking yesterday at the launch of this year’s competition, which took place at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

“One of the things I think that’s important for me is to (let) the coaches and young players to understand by now that you’ve been given a fantastic opportunity to have a company such as Flow so heavily involved in the sport of football in Trinidad and Tobago,” said Lawrence. “I think that’s absolutely remarkable.” The national coach, delivering his speech ad-lib, continued, “What I think is important for the coaches and for the players to understand, that you have to believe in your dreams - development is a process.

“And what I’ll like to say to the coaches is please do not allow the result to affect the decision of the development of the young players,” added the lanky Lawrence.

“The players are the product. As a coach trying to develop young talent, your success, from my point of view, should be one day being able to see your young players go on to play for our national senior team (or) to abroad and obtain contracts.

The immediate result, for me, is of irrelevance.

What is important is that we understand and recognise the importance of the product and the product is the young players.” Lawrence, who was hired as the national team coach in January, stressed: “What I want to say to the young players is that you have to have a dream and an ambition.

I was told a million times ‘you would not make it’. But I had belief in myself, I had belief in the people around me and I had belief in my parents.” The season will kick off tomorrow with matches in three age groups - Under-13 (starting at 10 am), Under-15 (starting at 2 pm) and Under-17 (starting at 4 pm).

Cindy Ann Gatt, Flow’s Director of Marketing, commented in her address, “Our involvement is designed specifically to increase the support for the success of local football. The appeal of the Youth Pro League to Flow is the fact that it is played in the communities, providing the players with ready support and encouragement.” She said, “I am encouraging all football fans to make a commitment this year to support your local club teams, school teams at whatever level they compete, commit to the team members to watch their games and get to know them as players. These are our future stars.” Round One Match Day One Fixtures - San Juan Jabloteh vs Club Sando, San Juan North Secondary School Ground; W Connection vs Central FC, Gilbert Park, California; Police vs Ma Pau Stars, St James Barracks; Point Fortin Civic vs Morvant Caledonia United, Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin; St Ann’s Rangers vs Defence Force, Trinity College Ground, Moka.