More $$ in Super League f/ball

APPROXIMATELY $150,000 in prize money will be at stake in the 2004 National Super League, which will run from June 4 until October 22. Making this announcement was Anthony Harford, marketing director of All Sport Promotions Limited, during yesterday’s launch of the second annual competition. The function was held at the Queen’s Park Cricket Club conference room in Port-of-Spain. Noting that the tournament will be “bigger, better and considerably richer” than last year, Harford stressed that the event will foster a greater relationship between his organisation and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF). The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs will cover the expenses of teams travelling between Trinidad and sister isle Tobago.

On the topic of a bigger contest there will be 14 teams, an increase of two from last year. Crab Connection, who won the inaugural event, will be defending their title under a new name L-Sporto Connection, while Biwater Stokely Vale, Maraval Youth Academy, Police, WASA Clean and White, Club Sando and Caroni will also remain within the fold of the Super League. Defence Force, TCL Samba Boys, Mayaro Spurs and Tamana United have been replaced by Angostura 1976 Phoenix, Carib, East San Juan United, Moruga, Harvard, Superstar Rangers and the “Eastern Lions” Joe Public, who declined participation in the rival T&T Pro League.

The league will get going on June 4 with a doubleheader at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mu-curapo from 6.30 pm with Rangers meeting San Juan followed by the Connection-Maraval encounter. Also on June 4, Police will meet Club Sando at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella at 4 pm. Regarding an improved competition, Harford noted that weekly highlights of matches will be aired on the state-owned TTT as well as the newly-launched IETV (Channel 16) with the majority of the matches being played on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Matches in the two-round league will conclude on Sep-tember 17 with the knockout phase of matches being contested from October 1 to 22. According to the league’s rules and regulations, “at the end of the league and based on the standings of the clubs placing tenth to 12th, shall participate in a one-round playoff against three clubs from the regional associations to determine participation to the 2005 version.” Commenting that “we will have a very professionally-run tournament,” Harford revealed that the overall budget this year is $516,000 with the champions in the league pocketing $70,000, runners-up get $40,000 and third-placed will collect $25,000. In the knockout contest, the winners will walk away with $15,000 and the losing finalists, $10,000. Also speaking at the launch were tournament director Doug-las James and TTFF vice-president Lennox Watson.