SVG ready for inaugural WIFA Women’s football competition

St Vincent and the Grenadines says it’s ready to host the inaugural Windward Islands Football Association (WIFA) women’s competition set for the Victoria Park from next Tuesday.{{more}}

As host, St Vincent and the Grenadines will take on the three others – Dominica, Grenada and St Lucia, in the April 7 to 11 competition.

Head of WIFA’s women’s committee – Vincentian Yoland London, who also chairs the local organising committee for the competition told SEARCHLIGHT that things are at the ready for St Vincent and the Grenadines to host.

“Everything is under control … We have already received the requisite documents from the participating teams and have made all of our submissions to FIFA …Our local sub committees have been set up to ensure that all areas are covered this too is going smoothly,” London assured.

London disclosed that all of the teams will arrive in St Vincent by Monday.

With regard to the officiating, London noted: “Each island sends two referees and one assistant referee, with St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucia each providing a match commissioner, while the referees’ assessors will come from St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada”.

London disclosed that thus far, Flow has been the lone corporation that has come forward with financial assistance for the $180,000 budget needed to see the competition through.

“I am pleased that Flow has seen the importance of sponsoring a competition of this nature … We hope that others would come on board, because at the end of the day, it is for nation building and part of female development in this harsh world,” London reasoned.

Meanwhile, head coach of the St Vincent and the Grenadines team Andrew Bramble said he is generally satisfied with the preparations going into the competition.

“Preparations have gone pretty well … It could have been better in terms of ground preparations, as we had to share with other football teams which are in training…. Despite the struggle we are going to give our best,” Bramble said.

Bramble said the team was engaged in practice matches with some male Under-17 teams, which served as a good gauge for his coaching staff of the readiness of their charges.

“We have some experienced players and we expect them to bring their A game…. We are playing at home and will be hoping that the crowd support will add that extra to our game,” he noted.

Bramble confessed of not having much data on the other teams, except Grenada, but will be relying on his team’s strengths to see them through.

“We will play our game, what we know… Plus we have some Under-17 players in the team and we are hoping that some can land college scholarships in the future as there was a scout who was here from the USA and who worked out with the team for one week, and gave good reviews on some of the players,” Bramble stated.

The home team, which has been bolstered by the inclusion of Kandice Franklyn who is based in St Martin, goes into camp from Saturday at the Technical Centre at Brighton.

With double headers listed for the three days, the competition kicks off with Grenada facing off with St Lucia from 5:00 pm, to be followed by St Vincent and the Grenadines versus Dominica from 7:00 pm.

On Thursday, Grenada and Dominica play from 5:00 pm and St Vincent and the Grenadines engages St Lucia two hours later.

The competition climaxes on Saturday, and features St Lucia against Dominica from 5pm, then St Vincent and the Grenadines opposes Grenada from 7pm. (RT)