FIFA, the global governing body for soccer, ordinarily enjoys huge revenue streams — in the hundreds of millions of dollars — from sponsorship deals attached to the world’s most-watched sporting event, the World Cup. But less than a year before the next edition of the tournament, the organization is having trouble finding companies willing to be a partner.

T&T’s World Championships gold and silver medallist Jereem Richards returned to the southlands this past weekend to deliver the feature address at ASJA Boys’ College in San Fernando. It’s where he studied CAPE before heading off to Alabama State University. He described his journey from a little boy idolising Ato Boldon to winning a gold medal on one of track and field’s biggest stages. His success spoke loudly this summer, but his struggles were silent.