Trinidad and Tobago is experiencing a heightened security alert following reports of a potential United States attack on Venezuela, causing widespread disruptions to the nation’s sports schedule. The State One Alert has mandated all eligible members of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force to report for duty, significantly affecting the sports community.
The first event to be affected was the Defence Force Rugby Sevens Tournament, initially set to take place at the Teteron Barracks in Chaguaramas over the weekend. Similarly, the South Zone Basketball Commission League’s Championship Division Final faced postponement, with the game between Police and Southside Elite at the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Pleasantville delayed indefinitely. The Police team communicated that all their players had been called to duty, prompting the Commission to seek a new date.
The Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL) was less impacted, with Police FC’s head coach Todd Ryan confirming no official orders had been received to withdraw his officers. However, only two police officers were observed in the starting lineup against Central FC, with the remainder of the team comprising civilian players.
Defence Force FC, the reigning TTPFL champion, could not confirm if its officers were mobilized. Coach Devorn Jorsling stated that no instructions had been received to prevent their scheduled match against FC Eagles at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. The team, a mix of army, coast guard, and civilian players, was set to play the first match of a doubleheader, followed by Caledonia AIA versus Club Sando.
League CEO Yale Antoine indicated that no postponement requests were made, despite recent changes in Defence Force management. He clarified that if necessary, the situation could be considered force majeure, allowing for rescheduling on designated postponement days.
