Goal Searching: A Future After TTFAilure

 In the latest episode of “TTFA vs FIFA”, football’s governing body threatened the TTFA in a letter stating that Trinidad and Tobago can be suspended from FIFA and its competitions if they don’t comply with the FIFA Statutes regarding CAS and the normalization committee that FIFA appointed for T&T’s Football Association. A lot has happened since FIFA disbanded the new TTFA Board of Directors on March 17^th this year – from shallow disputes to heated court cases to intimidation. FIFA seems adamant on standing by their Statutes, which means Trinidad and Tobago are possibly in a hole that looks too deep to escape from.

So, with a possible suspension looming over the country’s FA, where does that leave T&T’s next generation? Those young players who caught our attention at national youth level - are their dreams of reaching the senior team over? Most of these guys are in their late teens and, considering the popular Trini phrase “If you aren’t playing professionally by age 20, forget the National Team”, things are looking bleak. If T&T aren’t allowed to play in FIFA competitions at all levels, how will the players get the opportunity to impress at youth tournaments? The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t helping their progress either. The red light on football in Trinidad and Tobago may force national team head coach, Terry Fenwick, to look at nationals and potential nationals playing regular first-team abroad. If a ban is imposed, Fenwick will have intentions of returning strongly. Consequently, these young players may be overlooked, especially considering the weight of World Cup and Gold Cup qualification, and they may not see a National Team kit until, possibly, their mid-20s.

As a result, T&T’s budding talents will be seriously looking at options away from these humble shores to pursue a professional club career and be in contention for selection – a kind of “if you can’t beat, them join them” game, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For some time, the majority of the National Team consisted of players from the Pro League and the Super League. While it is beneficial to our professional leagues to promote players, it hasn’t been beneficial for the National Team due to the lack of international experience in the squad. It was clear to see how much that affected the squad in qualification for the 2018 World Cup and in the group stage of the 2019 Gold Cup. The 2006 World Cup team was filled with foreign-based players and there’s no doubt that it played a part in the team’s success.

The foreign-based players in T&T’s current squad are, undeniably, the best players. Joevin Jones, Kevin Molino, Aubrey David and Alvin Jones are a few names that any coach of Trinidad and Tobago will want as first-choice in their respective positions on the team sheet. Even Levi Garcia’s short spell at Dutch club, AZ Alkmaar, had him leading T&T’s front line at 17 years old. Having more players at strong international clubs will only benefit the National Team. Just imagine Mark Ramdeen at Orlando City or Jaiye Sheppard at Southampton – sounds good, doesn’t it? Ramdeen can learn a lot from Nani and Sheppard will have a ton of Premier League mentors at his disposal.

College raids may also be a thing for T&T’s future. Many SSFL graduates have touched down on US soil and have been thriving both on the pitch and in the classroom. From Jarred Dass to Mylz Barrington, T&T has a decent talent pool in America. Their experience at collegiate level should not be taken for granted or ignored, especially given the quality and level of competition among schools. While there is no guarantee that college football will create Trinbagonian superstars, it does provide the opportunity for more T&T nationals to play in MLS or Liga MX, which means more experience in North America’s top tier, which means added quality to the National Team.

But what about the players who can’t afford to go abroad? Or those who aren’t lucky enough to secure a professional contract? What do they do? For some, the Pro League is all they have and, well, depending on the circumstances, they might have to work twice as hard and may become discouraged – unfortunately. The end of the pandemic and the end of the suspension may align, which might possibly be a year from now, so things will be difficult for everyone involved.  Therefore, measures must be put in place to keep their development going. Players improve by playing more so, in the absence of the SSFL, the TTFA (with help from the government) should make allowances for schools and clubs to play a set amount of friendlies behind closed doors while observing all testing and safety protocols. Likewise, at national level. Even if the players aren’t being considered at senior level, they are important for their youth teams, and that’s their superpower. Competitive friendlies against the senior men’s and women’s teams will go a long way. A pandemic and a suspension, for obvious reasons, may slow down youth development, but they shouldn’t stop it.

So, we’re back where we started: the TTFA vs FIFA battle. All eyes are on the TTFA as the ball in now on their field. Their decision (or non-decision) to accept FIFA’s claim and take the matter to CAS will have a big impact. We’ve envisioned the consequences for young players if the TTFA does suffer a suspension. It may work for some; others may find it difficult. If the suspension is evaded, then that brings new possibilities. Would William Wallace and the TTFA be able to finally bring a positive change to T&T football? Time will tell.


- David Scarlett