New dawn beckons Pro League

THE T&T Pro League have been allocated $2.75 million for prize monies, at a rate of 25 percent per annum, from 2004-2007.

Making this disclosure was Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Roger Boynes at the official launch of the new marketing plan, entitled “2004 and Beyond,” at the Flamingo Room, Hilton Trinidad, Port-of-Spain yesterday. This announcement came weeks after FIFA vice-president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) special advisor Jack Austin Warner pulled out his club Joe Public from the league. Warner stated that the tournament’s administrators had shown little marketing initiative since he withdrew his annual sponsorship of the League in 2002.

Boynes noted that half-time competitions will be staged during matches in an effort to entice a larger supporter turnout. “We insisted on marketing because when we looked at the community leagues we realise that it brings out a lot of people,” added Boynes. But he sent out an appeal to corporate Trinidad and Tobago to assist in funding the league, with the promise of a 150 percent tax rebate on income tax, up to $1 million. The TTFF were also presented with a sum of $2 million “for development programmes for all national teams up to four years” according to Boynes. The minister also announced that the Semi Professional Football League will also benefit to the tune of $250,000 with a grant of 100 percent waiver of rental fees for the five national stadia —- Mucurapo, Arima, Couva, Marabella and Bacolet.

On his expectations for the sport Boynes pledged that “we all have to come together to get it right” adding that he expects the League to become economically viable by 2007, when Government will end their financial partnership with the organisation. Pro League chairman Larry Romany revealed that matches will be played on Fridays and Sundays, instead of Wednesdays and Sundays, as a means of attracting larger turnouts at matches. And the 2004 season will comprise of two rounds of matches for the duration of April to December. The veteran administrator, who also dons the hat as vice-president of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC), said that seminars will be organised planned to enlighten the players on media relations as well as life after sport while the league will emphasis on “creating stars” as part of their marketing drive.

Work on the logo was done by artist Kenneth Henry with Romany stating that the design “merges culture with the spirit of football.” The website — www.ttproleague.com — is enscribed with the quote “one people, one vision, one culture, striving for excellence.” Among the footballing dignitaries in attendance were TTFF first vice-president Raymond Tim Kee, TTFF Marketing Officer Peter O’Connor, General Secretary of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Harold Taylor, assistant coach of the national men’s senior team Michael Maurice, head coach of the women’s team Jamaal Shabazz, TTOC president Douglas Camacho and his General Secretary Brian Lewis.