Press Release
This release is seeking to clarify misinformation posted on wired868.com by Mr. Lasana Liburd on Monday 9th January 2023 concerning Footy Fest, Footy Fest All Stars and by extension Unveil Sport Limited (Unveil).
Firstly Footy Fest 2022, is a collaborative effort between Footy Fest and the Secondary School Football League. It is primarily intended to be a post season entertainment football tournament for ALL participating teams. Teams and Schools are formally invited via phone call, emails and through team representatives such as team managers with regards to the organization of their teams by Secondary School Football League and Footy Fest. Members of the Footy Fest organizing committee communicate with the captains of the respective teams to assist with the promotion of Footy Fest in the student body. The captains along with the respective managerial teams act as liaisons to not only determine what would make the event great for them as participants, but also to aid in the smooth and seamless dissemination of information to the teams in the event of any sudden changes that may not be relayed in a timely manner by officials.
The article by Mr. Liburd indicated that “Teams attended Footy Fest without coaches”, please allow us to clear the air on this report. As aforementioned Teams and Schools are formally invited to attend Footy Fest months in advance. Despite this, there have been numerous occurrences where coaches have informed their players that they (the coaches) would not be attending Footy Fest as they were not being remunerated by the schools to attend the event. In response to this Unveil is often inundated with calls and requests by players and parents who voice their concern and disappointment with the decision taken by such coaches. One of Unveil’s goals is to publicize the growth and development of sports within the island of Trinidad and Tobago, and as such we have never and would never down young footballers who are eager to play football, in any form or fashion especially where finance may be an issue. As a response to this Unveil has given said teams the option of having a school representative and/or their parents present during the event.
The Best Secondary School Players Every Season
The article further reported that “The TTFA’s idea appears to be that after the schoolboys play a half-dozen small-sided Footy Fest games amongst themselves, the organisers would throw together a team on the fly to challenge the National Under-17 Team.”
On this excerpt, we can only label it as being mischievous, pseudo libelous and untrue. The Footy Fest All Star Game has been in existence for four years. Wired868 has reported and posted same on its website on previous occasions. The assertion that the players would be “throw(n) together on the fly” is again patently untrue. All players have been selected by our team based on their performance throughout the Secondary School Football Season. The same has been done for 2022. This game takes the format of an exhibition game after the 7 a side tournament has concluded. Players starring in the Footy Fest All Star game are usually rested during the 7 a side tournament. The All Star Game also features two full 25 players squad, made up of the best boys and girls in the Secondary School League. Over the years, we’ve seen notable national players such as John Paul Rochford, Judah Garcia, Che Benny, Neveal Hackshaw and Jesse Williams take part in these All Star Games.
Our idea for the 2022 Footy Fest All Star Game was different this year, as many of the talented players were selected for the National U17 team. Instead of cancelling the game, we decided to have one All Star Team play against Police FC U20. During our planning, we reached out to the TTFA for an opportunity to play against the National U17 team with the best players of the Secondary School Football League 2022 season.
The setting is far from that of a “fete match”. The comments made in the article are unwarranted and disrespectful not only to the past, current and future footballers of the All Star Teams, but also to sponsors, parents and principals who have supported Unveil and Footy Fest. On this issue the team at Unveil certainly has not taken the misinformation posted lightly and are considering all avenues of potential recourse.
In closing Unveil’s wish is that our youths get the much needed positive support as they take ahold of and steer their professional career, in whatever form or fashion that may be. We hope that in the future an iota of effort be put into contacting any representative of Unveil before publishing inaccurate information, especially information which has the potential to mislead, whether intentionally or unintentionally; the public into making a misinformed judgement about Footy Fest or the All Star Game.
Footy Fest 2022 Invitational Flyer
