THE EXECUTIVE committee of the Pro League will meet at the league’s office in Curepe from 2 pm today to discuss two crucial issues — the ability of a few top clubs to compete in the 2009 season and which teams will be admitted into the fray this year.
In recent weeks, North East’s owner Darryl Mahabir and Rangers’ coach Anthony Streete both publicly complained about the lack of sponsorship and finances in their respective clubs,.
And the league is struggling to get any assistance from both the Ministry of Sport and the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT).
The league lasted throughout the 2008 season due to the input of the various sponsors Courts Limited, Toyota, Lucozade Sport and First Citizens. And, with the current global economic turmoil, defending champs CLICO San Juan Jabloteh’s involvement in the upcoming season is in doubt as the financial group announced on Friday that it required a Government bail-out to stay afloat.
CLICO has been funding the Jabloteh squad for nearly a decade, and if indeed the financial firm decides to end their deal with the league champions, it may force the four-time winners to determine whether or not they will have the funds to last throughout the entire 2009 season.
The other teams who are likely to remain from the 2008 competition are runners-up W Connection, Joe Public, Defence Force, United Petrotrin, Ma Pau, Caledonia AIA and Tobago United.
Connection and Joe Public are both privately-owned (by businessman David John-Williams and football administrator Jack Warner respectively), while Ma Pau and Caledonia are funded by companies (the casino group Ma Pau and Neal and Massy respectively). Defence Force, comprising footballers who are members of the military, receive their stipend from the Ministry of National Security; Petrotrin is backed by the petroleum group and Tobago United is funded by the Tobago Channel Five Network.
Five teams are also vying to earn spots in this year’s competition — Police, Angostura 1976 FC Phoenix, Marabella Flames, South End and St Clair Coaching School.
The lawmen were forced to opt out of last year’s contest due to a directive by then Police Commissioner Trevor Paul, to recall officers into the force to combat the rising crime rate.
Phoenix have been consistent performers in the Super League since its inception in 2004 while both Marabella and South End are teams originating from South Trinidad.
And St Clair Coaching School — like Phoenix is a Tobago-based outfit, has been involved in football for over 20 years by ex-national coach Bertille St Clair.
Jabloteh pondering next move
T&T Guardian
Powerhouse CLICO San Juan Jabloteh is surely evaluating its move after chief sponsor CL Financial filed bankruptcy last week with the possibility of a Pro League exit on the drawing board for the defending Pro League Champions.
Jabloteh’s history goes back some 35 years but only rose to powerhouse stardom since the involvement of CL Financial back in 1996. Now just two months away from the start of their League Championship title defence, the ‘San Juan Kings’ are facing financial strains ahead of their involvement in the 2009 season with their major sponsor plunging into bankruptcy due to the global recession.
“We have been in business for the past 35 years and we will be looking at all our options. At the moment we need time to analyse the situation and decide what ways we can manoeuvre what is happening,” said Jabloteh chairman Jerry Hospedales snubbing questions of a possible Pro League exit.
Jabloteh is currently uncertain as to their next step as sponsorship monies from CL Financial which is estimated at $350,000 a month could be reduced or—the worst case—cut off completely as the financial giant heads under new management.