Sports Minister calls on SVGFF to complete Goal Project soonest

Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture Cecil Mc Kie is calling on the executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation to fast track the completion of its Goal Project, which is under construction at Brighton.{{more}}

Mc Kie’s request came at the prize-giving ceremony for the two national football competitions, the 2012 National Club Championships and the 2013 National Inter Community League, held recently at the Federation’s office at Bentinck Square.

A FIFA funded project, Goal Project One began in 2010, under the former executive, led by Joseph Delves. It is, however, yet to be finished.

The US$400,000 project, which is essentially a technical centre, includes a dormitory to house 40 persons, conference rooms, a lobby, gymnasium, office, laundry, dining area, among other amenities.

Also part of the plan was the erection of bleachers on the western side of the Brighton Playing Field, as well as the fencing of the field.

Mc Kie said that the project could assist with the reduction in the cost of accommodation for the SVGFF when they are called upon to host visiting teams.

“When you (are) bringing in teams for friendlies, I am sure that this is one of the facilities that can be utilized,” Mc Kie said.

The Sports Minister also advised that the facility’s use should not be confined to football, but extended to other sporting disciplines and oganisations.

“…From to time, they want to go on training programmes, retreats, programmes where they can develop their particular game and I know that this facility at Brighton can play a very, very important role in allowing not only tootball, but all of the other sporting disciplines can utilize that facility,” McKie proffered.

Immediately responding to McKie’s call was president of the SVGFF Venold Coombs, who said that the project is near to completion.

“It is about 99 per cent completed, just one or two things to be done… It is basically finished”, Coombs told the audience.

Coombs said another $30,000 will be needed to complete the project, but did not state how soon the building will be available for use.

During the tenure of the St Clair Leacock led administration, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation sought to begin its first project, the erection of an administrative building in the Quarry area.

However, this project got entangled in a legal tussle over the ownership and title to the land.

The matter has since been cleared, but the SVGFF, under the presidency of Joseph Delves, had to pay an additional $117,000.

While St Vincent and the Grenadines is yet to complete its first project, some countries in the region have accessed as many as three such projects.(RT)