Fakoory: Stop the football raiders

SUPERSTAR Rangers owner Richard Fakoory is calling for an end to the financial domination of large football clubs in local football. His call comes after his team— who have dominated the Under-18 division in Trinidad and Tobago football, was raided by the larger football clubs, namely CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, Joe Public Football Club, W Connection and to a lesser extent the Defence Force. This has happened he said because his team is unable to financially provide for their players due to his inability to secure sponsorship.

Fakoory claims his players always approach him for a transfer once the larger teams approach them. “Once these players approach me, there is nothing else that I can do but grant them their wish, because I care about them and often allow them to make their own decision on their future,” the Rangers boss said. “I cannot keep them so I might as well allow them to go,” Fakoory said. He added however that it hurts him when these large clubs speak about “developing the players” after Rangers have done all the fundamental work in their primary stages. Fakoory said the developments suggest he must return to the top flight in Trinidad and Tobago football— the T&T Pro League.

He expressed the view that a one million dollar sponsorship by corporate Trinidad and Tobago  will spark overall development for all clubs, which will include the paying of salaries to players, among other areas. Fakoory singled out San Juan Jabloteh  who he said has got a fairy godfather in regional financial powerhouse CL Financial. He said the club gets some $4 million to run the club each year from their sponsors but he only needs $1 million to run his club. Rangers did get a taste of top flight football during Semi-Professional Football League back in 1997/98 before the introduction of a full professional league in which they failed to meet the criteria to be admitted.