Port of Spain (Trinidad), Dec 16 (IANS/CMC): Former Trinidad and Tobago defender Brent Sancho believes there is need to establish a well constituted and funded sports academy in the twin-island republic.

Sancho, in a recent newspaper interview, said that the time has come for the athletic talent in Trinidad and Tobago to be properly harnessed, reports CMC.

He said that on his return to Trinidad and Tobago following retirement from international football, he was surprised by the innate talent on the fields and courts of play.

Convinced that the island's sporting capital was still untapped, he is advocating for a public-private sector partnership which he described as crucial, towards cultivating the country’s true sporting excellence.

“An academy for sport in T&T is needed. From all that I have seen in T&T, football is not the only sport that suffers that fate. I think every other sport seems to have a problem when it comes to developing raw talent.

"When you see individual brilliance, it is because of one individual being able to sustain a certain programme over the course of the years and a lot was done from their financial commitment, preferably from their parents. What you are seeing in T&T is the ones that have gone through the cracks are the ones that (are) not able to sustain and I think we can do better, especially for a country so rich financially,” he said.

“I don’t point the finger so much at the government. I point more at the private sector. I think they need to do a lot more to invest in our kids and invest in the development of our community because what you are seeing is young kids that have the ability, that have the talent, that have the drive and have the commitment."