Romany says Pro League on rise

CHAIRMAN of the T&T Pro League Larry Romany says the league is just beginning an important and exciting phase in its history. The league in Romany’s view has turned the corner and is now well on course. He however cautions that there are challenges still to overcome. But noted that a  lot of work has gone into raising the creditability and viability of the league. The return of Joe Public to the league and the acceptance by the Football Federation of  a proposal to manage the Superleague is  tangible evidence of the progress made. Romany said it was heartening  to hear the kind words expressed by Jack Warner, Special Adviser to the TTFF at a recent  media conference.

As it is no secret that Warner withdrew Joe Public from the Pro League due to dissatisfaction with the operations and doubts about the future of professional football. Romany admitted when he accepted the appointment as chairman of the Pro league close friends and some in the TTOC questioned his sanity. The additional fact that he  had no football pedigree as such may have caused some concern to some in the football fraternity while others questioned his agenda  in accepting the honorary position. “It has been a difficult and taxing three years where at times the only thing that kept me  going was an indomitable self-belief and an unwavering commitment to provide the talented footballers of TT with a honest means of  using their god given talent,” Romany said.

The league’s chairman believes that the important ingredients were the refusal to let anyone talk the league out of the big vision for the league, to not accept excuses or make lack of money be the scapegoat. “We created a culture of innovation, hired a well-qualified CEO with football pedigree and gave him (Dexter Skeene) his staff and the marketing committee the freedom to think out of the box and try new ideas no matter how outrageous they may have seemed,” Romany said. The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, The Tobago House of Assembly  and corporate sponsors such as FCB, Sports and Games, Lucozade, Toyota, Sportflex, KFC and Courts all supported the new ideas in marketing and promoting the league.

Romany said the league has taken on the challenge of expansion in addition to managing the Superleague because it is imperative if they are to improve the quality and standard of football. “The significance and implication of this cannot be understated. In the three years we have always maintained open and honest dialogue with the TTFF and Mr Warner. There would have been times when we may not have seen eye to eye on things but always in an atmosphere of cordiality and mutual respect.

Under my watch I have always insisted that the Pro League  is not in competition but in partnership with all the football stakeholders,” Romany said. “Mr Warner’s endorsement of the efforts we have made to keep the league alive is deeply appreciated. Mr Warner’s vision, passion and commitment for TT football is unquestioned. “He never wavered in his vision or doubted that TT will one day make it to a FIFA World Cup,” Romany said.