Premier League Tier 2 starts May 27th
Premier League Tier 2 starts May 27th
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association held a ceremony on Friday at the University of Trinidad and Tobago Chaguanas campus to officially launch Tier 2 of the TT Premier Football League.
Representatives of participating clubs joined with League CEO Colin Wharfe, TTFA General Secretary Amiel Mohammed, and Argentina’s Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Marcelo Suarez Salvia who was among the special guests present to mark the significant occasion.
It was disclosed that Eleven (11) Teams were successfully licensed to compete in Tier 2 and they are as follows: Guaya United, Bethel United, 1976 Phoenix FC, QPCC, Matura ReUnited, Harlem Strikers, Petit Valley Diego Martin United, Defence Force FC TTSL, Police FC TTSL, San Fernando Giants and U.T.T.
Pursuant to feedback from clubs and the time windows available for effective league play, the format of the competition for the TTPFL Tier 2 transitional first season will see clubs play each other in a single round. Thereafter, the top six (6) teams in the standings will qualify for a play-off that will be executed as follows
– 3rd vs 6th – Winner 1
– 4th vs 5th – Winner 2
– 1st vs Winner 1 – Semi-Final 1
– 2nd vs Winner 2 – Semi-Final 2
– Play-off 3rd Place – Loser Semi-Final 1 vs Loser Semi-Final 2
– Play-off Finals –Winner Semi-Final 1 vs Winner Semi-Final 2
Tier 2 Clubs will play in home venues once it adheres to the regulations. Clubs will have full autonomy to operate their ground as they see it and are encouraged to commercialize.
Tier 2 Fixtures will be published over the weekend after a few venues have been finalized but kick off is slated for May 27 2023 with an opening match featuring Bethel United and 1976 Phoenix FC Tobago in Tobago.
CEO Wharfe told the audience : “Your presence today is a testament to the joy and passion that this sport engenders, and speaks to the esteem with which professional football is regarded in Trinidad and Tobago. Today, we are elated to launch the second tier of the Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League.”
“To recap, this League derives its structure from the recommendations of a 2021 FIFA-led T&T Professional Football League Development Study. During the mid- November to mid-February period of 2021, the organising team, with the full support of the TTFA’s Normalisation Committee, the Ministry of Sport and Community Development, FIFA, Concacaf and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago, worked diligently to launch the League. Tier 1 is the highest level of professional football,3
with Tier 2 a bit more focused on fulfilling a critical developmental role in the professional careers of our senior talent,” Wharfe stated.
“Tier 1 comprises twelve teams and Tier 2 will have eleven teams. Tier 2’s season will run for 14 weeks; culminating in August 2023. As this is the inaugural year, with a truncated season for both tiers, there will be no Promotion and Relegation in the first season. There will be one round of matches where all eleven teams will play each other. This will be followed by a Tier 2 playoff among the top six teams in Tier 2.
Tier 1’s first season is scheduled to end in June, following which, there will be a knockout among the teams comprising both the Top-Tier and Second-Tier. For the most part, Tier 2’s matches will be played at the home grounds of the respective teams, as well as national stadia and other approved venues.
“Subsequent seasons of both tiers of the TTPFL are expected to run annually, commencing in
September/October and ending in May of the following year. The first full annual season will commence in October 2023.”
What does success look like, Wharfe asked.
We have identified 3 areas:
• Taking the lead in rebuilding stakeholder trust in the local administration of the sport
• Re-engaging our players – current and aspiring, as well as the public
• Creating a platform, through a high level of competition, to assist in the development of our talent
“The end-game of the above and other initiatives being undertaken by the TTFA being …… to get our players and teams back to their pride of place in regional footbal. Turning to the overall management of the league… The TTPFL is being run and supervised by a four- member Executive Committee, chaired by me. The Executive Committee reports to an Oversight Body which comprises representatives of the TTFA, the League’s CEO, representatives from the participating Clubs, representatives of The Ministry of Sport and Community Development, the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago and independent members.
“Ultimate responsibility for the League rests with the Normalisation Committee as the Board of the TTFA. We take this opportunity to announce that Mr. Jameison Rigues has been selected by the eleven teams of Tier 2 to be their representative on the Oversight Body. Tier 1 clubs will similarly be invited to select a representative to sit on the Oversight Body.
“The TTPFL, in its current format operates as a unit within the TTFA Secretariat. The Executive Committee has access to existing departments within the TTFA, for example, Competitions, Technical, Licencing and where necessary we have engaged external expertise. Concacaf and FIFA have also provided resources, advice and counsel.
Funding and Financial reporting.
“Funding is being provided by the TTFA through the FIFA Forward Programme 3.0…. for those not familiar, 3.0 is a Fund used to bolster football development of FIFA’s member associations…. the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, corporate partners and other sponsors.. For Tier 2, funding has been allocated and7 agreed with the principal financiers to cover inter-island travel, bus transportation, insurance, ambulance services and match official fees.
“The finance department of the TTFA will provide financial oversight for the League. This will ensure that funds invested are applied to their intended purposes. The FA will be the conduit through which a significant proportion of the funds will be received and disbursed, and where financial reports will be produced. The FA’s policies and processes have been recently updated to provide an appropriate framework for the recognition, measurement and reporting of the financial performance of the League.
“Clubs are required to provide appropriately certified financial reports to the TTFA to account for funding that they have independently acquired and invested in their teams for the purpose of this League. This will assist us in quantifying the full cost of running the League, as we
seek to refine and enhance the product over time,” Wharfe concluded.
Showcasing the League
It is no secret that a great product requires the support of a robust and well executed marketing plan, as well as clear, purposeful communication to ensure that the target audience is sensitized, informed and engaged.
Our marketing will be extended to include Tier 2; namely traditional media, digital media, engagement activities, and community building initiatives. Communication will continue to be frequent and free
flowing with the aim of keeping the fans and general public in the know with regard to latest league and
knockout updates, match results, and team standings. Regrettably, our broadcasting partnerships with Fifa + and Sportsmax does not cover the Tier 2 matches, until appropriate sponsorship can be sourced to cover those costs.
