SVGFF welcomes government’s push for semi-professional Football league

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) said it is fully on board with a proposal made the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), to have a semi- professional Football League established here. At the Independence Parade at Victoria Park last Sunday, October 27, 2024, among the many pronouncements Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves made was that the government will be moving to have a semi-professional football league in place in SVG. He noted that one of the overarching objectives of a professional Football league, is “to make sure that our young football players make some money while they are playing Football”.

In response, President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF), Otashie Spring, said it is “timely” and will advance their mandate.

“What the government is initiating is nothing short of magnificent ,and only augurs well for the growth and development of the sport in the country,” Spring told SEARCHLIGHT.

He said the establishment of a semi-professional league was one of the pillars of his team’s manifesto, as they went into the March 21, 2024, elections for a new executive for the Federation.

“It is being realized much faster that administrators have anticipated,” Spring indicated.

The SVGFF President proffered that government’s support is timely, given the parallel development of lighted playing fields that would enable Football to be played at night.

“We are seeing the infrastructural development where there are three lighted facilities [that]can be used to play football. Prior to that, six months ago, we only had one, now we have the Arnos Vale Playing Field and the Brighton Playing Field.”

Expounding on the positives such a league will have on the psyche of footballers, Spring added, “It is going to raise the competitiveness, and what you are going to find happening is that we are going to have a semi professional product”.

Spring added, “A player knows that it is not only his passion for the game that he can enjoy, but he can enjoy monetary reward as well. That is going to motivate the players and once we have more motivated players, you are going to have players who are keener on training because now they are being remunerated”.

The SVGFF President revealed that his organization is fully onboard with the government’s proposed undertaking, and with support from the private sector, he believes the league can be realized in the shortest possible time frame.