For yet another time players have been forced to take the T&T Football Association to Court for monies owed to them after promises were made. Why this continues to happen, why?
On this occasion, it's the Futsal staff and players who turned to the legal route to force the TTFA to honour a promise made back in 2015.
And I am sure there are many others which include businesses just waiting in the wings to have their matter settled for monies also owed to them.
It will be unfair to say that this serious financial dilemma has just started, which means that previous administrations are equally to be blamed for not honouring some long-outstanding debts to its players, staff and businesses.
The difference between these matters and the indebtedness could only be drawn by the fact that some of the previous administrations were making efforts to honour their commitments in small ways, leaving the recipients in hope that they will be eventually paid.
This current administration has not done a satisfactory job in their repayment pattern.
Maybe they did not realise that when they took office, all the previous debts were now in their hands. That is the case. The list of coaches, players, office employees and clubs have suffered immensely, as they were actually deprived of leaving hungry players and staff members cash-less and unable to feed their families.
Foreign coaches were employed here for periods of time, only to realise that they will have to report directly to FIFA in order to receive their payments. Unfortunately, the local employees have not been so fortunate to ask for the financial returns from the work they have done.
The situation had reached serious proportions and the entire public are bemoaning the lack of funds for the debtors to build a huge hotel on a piece of land next to the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
During the time of the commencement of the building, national footballers have been honouring their commitment to the country on the field of play, and have not been paid, which has now brought them to refuse well in advance of playing friendlies against Wales and others until they are fully paid.
My question is: does it not worry the Sports Company, the Ministry of Sport, and also the TTOC that the image of our major team sport has gained so many negatives because of this awful predicament?
However, I solidly blame the Clubs in this country for this current situation, simply because this state of affairs has not recently been developed and they (the clubs) have not made a single effort to seek urgent enquiries from qualified personnel as to why the payments for their labour have been ignored against a massive gift by FIFA to build a hotel. The stakeholders should review the finance at hand and seek permission to ask FIFA to pay attention to the people and coaches who play the matches for our national teams over the urgency of the hotel, even if it was to start the hotel for completion in parts, to ensure that the financing of international matches would take place.
Have the TTFA informed the clubs and public at large as to whether these pro league clubs and Super League organisations have paid their registration fees, their referees, and other incidentals such as security for the protection of the fans.? If so, what have the secretariat done with these funds?
And just in case anyone believe that this information is not necessary for public exposure, I make no apologies to admit proof for some clubs winning prize monies in competitions and did not receive his or her winnings.
Having been on the management committees of both Football and Cricket, I can vouch for the fact that these problems have existed for many years and we still seem unable to find a permanent solution. The quality of our sports leaders was solidly competent in their duties and players were happy to represent their country in both sports, although there was no salary offered to players, except for a five dollar per day for Cricket.
On tour, our transport was comfortable, our meals were excellent, and I have never heard a player complain about money.
Are we so naive that we will continue to say nothing of the incompetence of modern-day management and just allow the quality of our major sports to decline southwards to an already unimaginable depth?
Our people love their sports. If you doubt me, just visit their homes during World Cup Football, World ICC cricket, plus the entertainment that they enjoy from the outside world of Football, Cricket, Track and Field, Swimming, Boxing, Field hockey for men and women.