Victoria Park cleared for football action

It was worth the wait for the footballers participating in the Guinness Inter League at the Victoria Park.

The local ballers have improved facilities and a better surface to hone their skills. They have a “near perfect” field and this has been manifested in the high standard of play exhibited by many of the teams.{{more}}

The league got started August 19, with a 20/20 elimination competition but was halted two days after, as the National Lotteries Authority carried out repair work.

This work has seen a well grassed playing area, erection of a fence at the northern end of the facility and the raising of the perimeter fence at the southern side.

But what threatened to escalate into a political battle for the turf, as President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation, St Clair Leacock had openly expressed his “frustration”, over the delay, panned out into an exercise of patience.

Action resumed at the Victoria Park two weeks ago with the staging of two friendlies – a local match up between two Over-35 outfits and a warm up match between St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.

A rejuvenated and converted president Leacock gave testimony at the resumption of the league of his impression of the improved state of the facility.

The league is going full throttle at the other two designated venues – the Campden Park Playing Field and the Clive Tannis Field in Bequia.

Last weekend, the senior competition served up mostly lopsided encounters.

North Leeward was at the receiving end of two heavy defeats. First they went under to Marriaqua 0-8 then to South Leeward 0-4. Sion Hill beat Stubbs 4-2 but lost to Barrouallie 1-2.

Bequia opened their campaign with a 3-1 triumph over the National Under-20, while Kingstown had a 4-0 win over Brighton and defending champion Arnos Vale beat Calliaqua 5-0.

A full complement of matches is scheduled for this weekend.

Double headers in the senior division are slated for the Victoria Park. Today, Calliaqua meet the National Under-20 from 5 pm, followed by Layou against Brighton. On Saturday, from 5, Barrouallie play Stubbs, with Arnos Vale versus Marriaqua from 6:30.

On Sunday North Leeward face the National Under-20 from 5 pm and capping off the weekend’s action at that venue, Sion Hill play North East.

The other senior division encounter is set for 3:45 pm at the Clive Tannis Playing Field, between Bequia and South Leeward.

Two fixtures in the Women’s division are scheduled for Campden Park. Kingstown and Calliaqua meet each other from 4:30 pm on Saturday, while Marriaqua and Barrouallie meet from that same time on Sunday.