SVGFF to tackle social issues

08.June.07

Concerns over the growing social decay of the Vincentian society have grabbed the attention of the executive of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Association.

President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation St. Clair Leacock at a Press Conference last Wednesday morning at the federation’s office to update the public on his organisation’s activities in the recent weeks, gave an outline of their proposed input to help stem this scourge.{{more}}

A concerned Leacock pointed with urgency the need to revive the club structure especially in the Kingstown area.

“Paul’s Avenue is a case in point, there used to be a strong Avenues club there. What can we do to revive a club of some sort there?” he asked.

“We need to revive the club structure”, Leacock reiterated.

He revealed that the federation’s First Vice-President Leopold Dopwell has been mandated in this regard to get the process of the revival of clubs going.

But Leacock thumbed the lack of playing facilities in the Kingstown locale as a contributing factor to the upsurge in deviance.

He lashed out at the restrictions placed on the once revered Victoria Park as “a travesty of justice”.

A peeved Leacock called the actions of the authorities as “carrying it too far”.

“They are treating it as somebody’s lawn”, Leacock opined.

He also revealed that the federation’s plans to partner with community based organizations to have mini tournaments.

“ We plan to have small goal competitions on Saturday mornings where we can donate balls, give technical assistance, donate uniforms and give small cash prizes”, he said.

“I have done that experimentally, not as a unique activity in the Sharpes community”, the football boss added.

Not burying his head in the sand on the issue, Leacock said that even among top footballers there is cause for concern.

“Let us not be naïve, many of our footballers have fallen through the cracks and have appeared before the court for criminal activities; there are rumours and speculations of players’ involvement”, stated a frank president.

He said that parents have come to the federation seeking assistance with some players’ behaviour.

Leacock said that his organization has begun a programme of counselling to assist these parents in curbing the players’ problems of ill-discipline.

He said the world body is also behind this move to do more than just organise football but to ensure that other social issues are tackled.