Million dollar stadium, football’s new home

The persistent call made by the football fraternity for a home for the sport may soon be answered.

Minister of Sport Glen Beache said that may not be too far off with the coming on stream of the National Stadium.

“Football is there; we need to give them a home and that will be out (at) Diamond,” Beache revealed last Saturday.{{more}}

He was at the time elucidating government’s decision to parallel the reconfiguration of the Arnos Vale Playing Field with the building of the stadium.

“I don’t think you can put one against the other; both are very important. This (Arnos Vale) is important for cricket, as we know cricket is arguably the most popular sport within the region,” Beache stated.

He disclosed that the $5 million apportioned in the 2006 National Budget presentation last December was for the designs of the stadium.

The St. Vincent and Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) for years has been clamouring for a venue to call its own, but has been met with limited success.

Beache who was part of last Saturday’s inspection team of the Arnos Vale Playing Field, which is undergoing repairs for Cricket World Cup 2007, said that the stadium should be ready in three years time as “the funds are there”.