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The prospect of removing Trinidad and Tobago’s Premier Football League from TTFA administration and placing it under club management is gaining serious consideration, according to reporting from the Trinidad Guardian. The push comes after the domestic league has sat idle for eight months with no clear start date, despite multiple promises to resume play.
Nirad Tewarie, chairman of San Jabloteh Sports Club, voiced sharp criticism of the TTFA’s stewardship, telling the Trinidad Guardian that more than 400 young footballers are suffering financially due to the league’s paralysis. The league’s start date has been pushed back three times, most recently from an announced November 20 launch, leaving players and their families in limbo. Tewarie emphasized that this prolonged inactivity undermines Trinidad and Tobago’s ability to compete internationally, as players lack regular competitive matches and training.
Tewarie called on the TTFA to take responsibility for the crisis and suggested that if the federation cannot or will not manage the league effectively, clubs should have a serious conversation about transferring control. He pointed to a historical precedent: in 1999, the T&T Premier Football League—then consisting of representatives from the 12 clubs—successfully managed top-flight football with a board of directors that secured sponsorships and oversaw operations.
The TTFA has struggled to secure consistent government funding, recently awaiting approved financing from the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT) while meeting compliance requirements. Meanwhile, Tewarie and other club executives are organizing meetings to discuss proposed constitutional amendments to the TTFA that would significantly reshape voting power. The proposed changes would reduce Tier 1 clubs’ collective votes from 24 to 10 and Tier 2 teams from 12 to 5, while increasing Regional Associations’ votes from 12 to 18.
Tewarie expressed concern not with specific provisions but with the process itself, noting that clubs have limited opportunity to propose alternatives or amendments under current statutes. He stressed that any decisions must prioritize the young men and women seeking to build careers in football and earn livelihoods for their families, rather than serving individual interests.
Trinidad and Tobago’s football governance has been marked by institutional challenges. The TTFA currently oversees the Premier Football League, but the federation has faced persistent funding difficulties and administrative delays. A precedent exists for club-led management: the T&T Premier Football League operated independently from 1999 with a board of directors drawn from club representatives.
This governance crisis in Trinidad and Tobago’s football system reflects broader Caribbean challenges in sports administration and funding. The disruption affects not only local players but also the national team’s competitiveness in regional and international competitions, matters of pride across the Caribbean.
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