Pro League footballers to share $2M in prize money

WINNERS of the T&T Pro League’s current football season will collect a $362,000 cheque.

According to a new prize structure announced by chairman Larry Romany yesterday, the ten-team league will pay out a total of $2 million at the end of the current season. For the past two seasons, following the withdrawal of funding by FIFA vice-president and league pioneer Jack Austin Warner, teams went unrewarded. And only on Wednesday last, Warner also announced he will be withdrawing his team Joe Public, nicknamed the Eastern Lions from the league citing financial constraints, including the loss of over $21 million in the last seven years. Romany said yesterday his board of directors agreed to the new prize structure which will be in force for the current season until 2006. And he said he is confident the infusion of prize money to winning clubs in the T&T Pro League “will redound to the benefit of all staikeholders.” Romany also indicated his league will unveil Marketing Plan “2004 and Beyond,” including a new logo, website, league format and most importantly a new community development plan.

This marketing thrust is expected to be launched on January 23 at the Hilton Trinidad in Port-of-Spain. Romany expects the new Pro League focus and vision will make a positive difference to the development of football, the youth of the country and by extension the fight against crime. He pointed out: “The league is entering into an exciting and important period of its history.” According to the new prize structure 2003-2006, CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh who seems certain to clinch the league title for a second successive season will get $362,000. The runners-up prize is $282,000; third $242,000; fourth $212,000; fifth $192,000; sixth $162,000; seventh $152,000; eighth $142,000; ninth $132,000 and tenth $122,000. During a recent radio talk show, ex-Pro League chairman Colin Prevatt said he noticed an improvement in the standard of football. But he said, some of the lesser teams must do more to improve their performances to be more competitive.