SVGFF gets $100,000 from NLA

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) has received sponsorship of $100,000 to be used for the National Club Championships.{{more}}

The cheque was handed over to the SVGFF by the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) on Wednesday, September 16, 2009, at the NLA headquarters in Kingstown.

$40,000 of the sponsorship will go towards promotional expenses and rent of the Victoria Park for the tournament. The other $60,000 will go towards other expenses incurred by the SVGFF during the championship.

The SVGFF and NLA National Club Championship, which started on September 5, 2009, will take place mainly at the Arnos Vale playing field. Matches will also be played at the Victoria Park once renovations at the Park have been completed. Matches will take place at the Park twice per day on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and at Arnos vale on Saturdays and Sundays. Teams will be allowed to practice at Arnos Vale on Tuesdays.

President of the SVGFF Joseph Delves thanked NLA for their contribution, adding that he hopes the SVGFF and NLA will have a mutually beneficial relationship. The overall budget of the championships, according to Delves, is about $150,000.

Delves added that the SVGFF is determined to improve the standard of football in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and said that improvements must begin with the younger generation. “We cannot improve the standards of the national teams if the clubs’ standards are not improved,” he said.

Product Development Officer of the NLA Anthony Dennie expressed how happy he is about the collaboration with the SVGFF. Dennie, who commended the SVGFF on having the championships, said that he is impressed with the performance of the teams thus far. He encouraged persons to come out and support the teams, stating that community involvement is very important to the success of the teams.(OS)