TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO operations manager William Wallace is once again calling on corporate community to come on board and support the federation as the team enter into 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking yesterday during the Panama friendly squad announcement at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Wallace articulated in depth his view why assistance from corporate T&T and the Ministry of Sport is crucial on behalf of all the national teams the association represents.
“I want to use this opportunity to make a special plea to co-operate Trinidad to come on board now, not just when we potentially do well in future,” stated Wallace.
He continued: “This is bigger than the TTFA it’s about helping the young people of Trinidad and Tobago via football that means a lot to the nation. If they are uncomfortable coming on board via the traditional ways, they could consider doing so by making direct payments straight to our service providers, but we need them at this point in time.” Wallace further explained why he feels the new sport ministry led by Darryl Smith is incapable of dealing with football problems.
“The Ministry of Sport’s allocation for sports is to fund 54 different sporting bodies in Trinidad and Tobago; football needs something specific and a possible separate special fund. I don’t want to isolate the minister because the new government has a lot on its plate – but their needs to be a wider government debate with new administration regarding understanding what football means to the nation, a bridge to the development of youth.
We have to be able sell that to them.
“We have the women’s senior, under 17 and under 20 teams also in action later this year, so this is an important discussion to have, otherwise this thing could collapse,” Wallace concluded.
It is going to cost $2 million to fund the participation of the Trinidad and Tobago senior men’s national team in its two opening FIFA World Cup qualifiers in November. The “Soca Warriors” begin the CONCACAF zone semi-final round World Cup qualifying phase away to Guatemala on November 13, before hosting the United States in Port of Spain on November 17.
General Secretary Sheldon Phillips also noted the TTFA plans to unveil its new website, merchandising campaign and branding initiative called “Warrior Time Is Now” that is scheduled to be unveiled in full effect on November 1st - are other ways the federation is seeking to become self-sufficient.