Phase zero of Football Stadium Project realised

A VISIT TO St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday, July 19 and Wednesday, July 20 by four technocrats of Football’s world governing body- FIFA, constituted part of Phase Zero of the proposed Football Stadium, to be undertaken by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation( SVGFF). A huge step forward was taken last Tuesday towards the realization of the long- awaited and anticipated stadium, when FIFA Regional Manager for the Caribbean – Alejandro Calvente, FIFA Regional Office Development Manager- Herve Blanchard, FIFA Regional Office Project Consultant – Jordan Victoire and FIFA Infrastructure Consultant- David Rosa, visited the site to get a first-hand view of layout and make specific recommendations to the SVGFF.

Their visit formed part of Phase zero of the project, as they will make a determination if there is need for soil testing, take a detailed look at the architectural drawings, the bidding documents and use their expertise to facilitate the selection process.

Blanchard, speaking at the end of the visit to Cane Grove summed up: “It has been a beautiful visit… It is a stunning setting, to envision a football pitch and I think that is the beauty of the game,[as] it is a dream for players to play in great stadiums, but it is a dream for authorities and people who are deeply attached to the country as well as the game, to envisage such projects to leave a long lasting legacy and impact on their country and for the upcoming generations”.

The FIFA Regional Development Officer indicated that they have been collaborating with President of the SVGFF Carl Dickson and his executive committee (exco) to have a proper plan delivered.

“We have been working together with President (Carl) Dickson and his administration; we have been working hand in hand to put together in the last few months a constructive master plan precisely towards this goal of making football truly global as well,“ Blanchard underscored.

Before journeying to Cane Grove on Tuesday, the FIFA delegation met with Acting Prime Minister Saboto Caesar, Minister of Sports Frederick Stephenson and Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves at Cabinet Room.

The planned Football Stadium will sit on five acres of land at Cane Grove, on the leeward side of the mainland, and will house a full-size international football field, a Futsal facility, as well as Technical Centre, to adequately house two teams and their official party.

The Football Stadium, to be funded by FIFA, will be the largest capital project to be undertaken by the SVGFF.

Other than the site visit to Cane Grove and talks with government officials, a meeting with the executive of the SVGFF on Tuesday, added to the FIFA officials’ itinerary here.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the FIFA officials along with Executive members of the SVGFF and Camillo Gonsalves, parliamentary representative of East St George, visited the Brighton Technical Centre, as another phase of development is planned for that facility.

The Brighton Playing Field has been leased to the SVGFF by the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines.