Sports Minister Brent Sancho is urging the nation's youth with shared passions for sports and academics not to abandon their quests.
As he worked to break down societal stereotypes, challenging naysayers who believed the concept of a student-athlete could not work, Sancho held firm to the view that merging the two actually cultivated better citizens. They would learn at an early age, he said, the importance not just about time management, but life management.
Speaking at yesterday's opening of the 16th annual Secondary Schools Leadership Symposium conceptualised and produced by the Sport Desk held at the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre, St Ann's, Port-of-Spain, the former national footballer told energised youths, had it not been for the foresight of his parents and coaches, he would not have become the success story that he was today.
Using himself as an example when it came to making life choices, Sancho said he always related how having a love for football and always wanting to make it his profession was achieved.
"I have always loved the sport of football and always wanted to make it my profession. I played professionally in Europe (Finland, England and Scotland). I was fortunate to have the most committed coaches at the youth level, who taught me the fundamentals and instilled a sense of pride in me. I wasn't just there to enjoy myself. I was representing my family, my school or club and my country. This grounding becomes so important in the latter half of my career. When I decided that I wanted to pursue tertiary education, of course, a scholarship was the avenue as my family could not afford to pay my tuition. I was accepted into Essex Community College, played and studied there, then went onto St John's University to pursue an undergraduate degree in psychology," he said.
"All the while, I was playing football or soccer as it's known in the United States, I began to inculcate the discipline required of a student athlete. It's never an easy task; being a young vibrant person, away from home and out of my parents' eyesight to buckle down and meet the rigorous demands of academics and sport. I managed to accomplish my goals through hard work and tenacity: qualities I would need to draw on as I pursed a career as a professional footballer."
Having played professionally in Europe, Sancho said he was able to learn vital lessons on every assignment and was convinced they prepared him for national duty when called to the senior men's national team back in 1999.
Reflecting, he described it was one of the proudest moments of his career, as it represented the ultimate form of patriotism for an athlete.
"I was fortunate to not only play for T&T, but captain the team in 2002 and a few years later to qualify for the World Cup. I don't need to remind you of the pride every citizen felt when our tiny nation was among the giants of the world in football. Coming down from the euphoric high of the national celebrations after the World cup, was difficult. There was limitless potential for the team to continue its upward trend and make a name for itself in world football. But that was not to be. Decisions and events after Germany 2006 forced me to reconsider my ambitions as a national team player," he said.
"I did enjoy a few more years as a professional at home and abroad. My final assignment was with Pro League team North East Rangers. This experience with the club as a player and administrator, demonstrated to me how much more I could contribute to the development of the game locally. When I hung up my boots, I was ready to move into the next phase of my football career, as a team owner. Rather than fit into another club, I made the bold decision to create my own drawing on the experience I gained abroad and seeking to make my mark on local football. Central FC was born in 2010 out of my determination to create a brand that could hold its own in the local market, not just on the field of play, but in the competitive corporate environment as well."
Turning his attention to the career opportunities that were now available in sport locally, for those desirous of pursuing this path, the minister said he was seeking to raise awareness and understanding of how sport could change lives and of equal importance turn a profit.
But to make this reality, he said, the administrations and management of sport needed to attain higher standards tested and proven by those more successful as there was no limit to what T&T could achieve through sport, but not without discipline and determination whether on the field on in the boardrooms.
"The United Nations estimates that sport accounts for almost three per cent of global economic activity. In the UK, sport generates around 2.5 per cent of GDP and in the United States sport is worth almost US$300 billion annually to the US economy. Some sporting organisations are of such size and scale that they warrant comparison with large global corporations. For example, Manchester United has more than 100 million fans worldwide, while Real Madrid turn over approximatel �400 million per year," he said.
"The business of sport is indeed profitable, when you consider just those two clubs and the revenue they are able to generate. But there are numerous organisations across the world and right here in T&T that are similar in scale, but no less important in terms of the impact they have on commercial, economic or socio-cultural development of the countries in which they are located."