$20M kicked into Caribbean League Football

TTFA President Raymond Tim Kee says the new league should start play next May.

20151105-Raymond Tim KeePORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) will benefit from a $20 million kit sponsorship deal borne out of a partnership that will also promote the Caribbean League Football (CLF).

“All our national teams will be covered under this initiative, all our Pro League teams, our Women’s League, our referees, the TTFA and the secondary schools. Everyone will be under the same brand and soon more details will be announced about the sponsorship but needless to say, the TTFA is very pleased with this deal,” said TTFA President Raymond Tim Kee.

The three-month league is tentatively set to start at the end of May next year and expected to include yet-to-be named marquee players, foreign players hailing from Central America, South America and Europe and local domestic footballers. The initial investment in the private venture is for two to three years.

Organizers, including Canadian director of the CLF A.J. Deber, said that negotiations and talks are underway with the marquee players as they finalize arrangements for the league.

The league, which will feature doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday and a Caravan concept on Wednesday (moving around to different Caribbean countries), will be preceded by a three-month combine and trial period with players trying out for spots and to facilitate a U.S.-style draft observed in leagues like the NBA in the build-up to the start of the league.

There will be no franchises, said former T&T footballer, chairman and CEO of the CLF, Chris Anderson Joyeau.

Former director at Brazilian football club Santos Andre Zonata said organizers will also place emphasis on “creating a sustainable youth development program.”

Joyeau added that in the initial year, Trinidad and Tobago will be the main hub of the league but there are negotiations underway to lease two Dash 8 aircraft to facilitate the movement of at least four teams and accompanying technical officials and media all at one time.