Plenty Sport : EZINE 22 PRO League Football | Page 3

1 ISSUE № 22, MAY 2016 “TT Pro League” Initially included : -The clubs must show proof of a home venue to stage matches, -The clubs must provide a minimum wage of TT$2,000 per month to a contracted player, -The clubs must have a minimum of sixteen (16) contracted players, a manager, and a physiotherapist.. The momentum for the Professional Football League in Trinidad and Tobago football occurred in 1994 with the establishment of the first “high prize” league. The attempt at this point was to start a professional trend in the country where large amounts of money were introduced on the domestic football scene. Police actually received a US$100,000 first prize early on in the history of the league. In order to successfully develop the professional player aspect, in 1996 teams and players were allowed to transition during a threeyear period from being clubs with semiprofessionals players to one where the players were fully contracted. The criteria By 1999 The Trinidad and Tobago allprofessional league, called the Professional Football League, was founded. leagues across the globe. The league re- The eight inaugural members were Defence formed in 2002 and as agreed by the interest- Force, Doc's Khelwalaas, FUTGOF, Joe Pub- ed clubs at the time, the decision was taken lic, Point Fortin Civic, Police, San Juan to develop a new professional league that Jabloteh, and W Connection. Over the recent would operate rather as a corporation, known years most of the Pro League fixtures occur as the T&T Pro League Limited, owned by in government run facilities such as the Has- the member clubs. Financial difficulties have ley Crawford, Ato Boldon and Larry Gomes seen a few clubs come and go but the most Stadia. The league may well be challenged notable addition to the Pro League recently by the need to incorporate a community has been the junior pro league to promote the based look and feel for the league to grow development of youth players to hopefully re attendance. The league however currently -build a community approach to the fixtures. well serves as a vehicle for potentially talent- Cover Photo by Allan Crane/CAImages ed players to secure transfer to prominent 1-868-620-8567