Sports Ministry assist with Pro League champ$

Earlier this week, three-time Pro League champs Central FC’s owner Brent Sancho lamented the fact that his club were yet to receive the majority of their 2014-2015 winnings as well as their entire $1 million guaranteed sum after their victorious 2015-2016 campaign.

He also noted that he was unsure when Central FC will receive their earnings for the 2016- 2017 season.

Chairman of the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT) Michael Phillips, in an interview on Friday, admitted, “the prize monies comes from the Ministry of Sport. That’s the sponsorship of the League.” He added, “we assist with the support of the clubs. In addition to what the Sports Company would have given to the teams, the League itself would have received $3 million from the Ministry of Sport.

That would go to prize monies, (administration) and staff for the Pro League.” The 2016-2017 season will officially end on February 19 while the 2017 season is set to begin either in April or May. There have been struggles for the participating clubs (excluding Police and Defence Force) with regards to their monthly subventions ($50,000/club) from SPORTT.

Phillips pointed out, “we assist the Pro League clubs for as long as possible. We have been in discussions with them in trying to assist in subsidising in other ways and trying to make them self-sufficient.

However there seems to be differing in opinions within the Pro League itself in terms of how to be able to do that.” The former national cyclist and TT Cycling Federation president added, “they have their own internal discussions in how to be able to move forward. There is always going to be some level of support and assistance to the Pro League, whether it is just via facilities or other services provided as is for all other sporting bodies/ organisations that seek to put on sporting activities and so on.

“Not all sporting organisations are subsidised to the point of salaries being paid. The Pro League is separate and apart from the assistance from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

It is treated as a totally different line item. We are trying our best to see how best we can assist.” About the lack of subventions lately, Phillips said, “where we have acted as facilitators, the financial viability and the responsibility of taking it into that direction lies with the owners, and the League itself. The State would have gone way beyond what was the original agreement (of giving the League three years to become self-sufficient).

“What we try to do is to continue to be facilitators at whatever level that is possible.”