NLA solidifies partnership with SVGFF

The National Lotteries Authority (NLA) is keeping to its mandate of supporting sports and culture, by partnering with the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation to host another revival of the Windward Islands Football Cup.{{more}}

The National Lotteries Authority plans to inject its share sponsorship into the tournament, which has a budget of $197,061.48.

The tournament takes place here, at the Victoria Park, from April 21 to 25.

Not allowing himself to be tied down to a particular figure, chairman of the NLA Murray Bullock said at a press conference last Friday at the SVGFF’s office that his organisation will sponsor the tournament, “to the tune of nothing less than any other sponsor. … We will be the major sponsor… The National Lottery will be contributing in cash and kind no less than CONCACAF’s contribution”.

The NLA chairman said that he believes that following the tournament, a profit can be realized, which “would be put back into the development of football”.

Bullock revealed that the NLA is heartily holding to its mandate of supporting sport and culture in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and is in the process of renewing its contractual arrangements with the SVGFF, as it relates to the National Club Football Championships.

Reports are the agreement between the two entities has expired, which has resulted in a delay in the payment of cash prizes for the 2012 Club Championships.

And, president of the SVGFF, Venold Combs noted that the support from the NLA is testimony of the confidence placed in his executive.

Coombs, who is also the president of the Windward Islands Football Association (WIFA) is credited as being the person responsible for the revival of the tournament, since he was reinstalled in the top position of the local football body in September, 2011.

In addition to the input from the National Lotteries Authority, CONCACAF has pumped in US$25,000 towards the hosting of the tournament.

Other support for the tournament has come from Digicel, Karib Cable and Coreas Hazells Inc.

The local Federation will be responsible for the three visiting teams’ accommodation, their ground transportation, as well as that of the match officials, inclusive of match referees, assistant referees, match commissioners and referees’ assessors.

Held sporadically over the past three decades, the Windwards tournament, which was once the lone outlet of football talent in the four islands, Dominica, St Lucia, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines, returns after an absence of a decade.

In the opening salvo, Grenada meets St Lucia from 6 p.m., to be followed by St Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica from 8 p.m.

On Tuesday, April 23, Dominica and St Lucia square off in the first of the double headers at 6 p.m., with St Vincent and Grenada meeting from 8 p.m.

The tournament closes off on Thursday, April 25, with Dominica coming up against Grenada from 6 p.m., and St Vincent and the Grenadines playing St Lucia from 8 p.m.(RT)