Future looks bright for PFL

THE PROFESSIONAL Football League should show signs of being a viable financial enterprise within the next five years. This was the pledge made by Larry Romany, the new chairman of the PFL on Tuesday at the launch of the FCB Cup Knockout tournament in Port-of-Spain. Romany said the underlying structure is currently being put in place and with support from the business sector, the PFL will be able to deliver on its promise within the designated time frame. Last year Romany said the organisation faced several “challenges”, and primary among them was the absence of prize money in the league championship. However he said it was a concerted and conscious decision of the eight teams taking part to forego prize money in the interest of keeping the competition going. And this season also, there has been no mention of prize money. However Romany said on Tuesday there have been significant offers of sponsorship for the PFL but before any commitment is made he wants to ensure that the benefactors would be able to get their just due in return. He announced that soon a Chief

Executive Officer will be appointed to run the affairs of the PFL, supported by qualified staff. “The policy driving the plan for the PFL will be horses for courses. Qualified people will be found to occupy the top management of the organisation,” said Romany. He admitted not being a “football person” and suggested that the CEO may not have any credible background in the sport. This, he said, would not be a bad thing since what was needed was an intellectual approach to the management of the PFL producing creative ideas to drive the plans of the organisation. Romany, a top official in the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee, said an effort is also being made to bring back the crowds to football, a difficult task as the popular spectactor sport is up against countless other forms of entertainment especially on the weekends. However, in collaboration with focus groups from several communities, specific high profile matches will be staged once a month with incentives offered to patrons lured by an accompanying media campaign. “The PFL knows how to run football. This part is well taken care of. Our effort is now putting in place an administration to successfully execute our plans,” said Romany. “We have to work together as a team to make the PFL a success,” he said.