Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
On Target
December 28, 2018

SVGFF righting wrongs

THE EXECUTIVE OF the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF), which for the last four months, has had Marvin Fraser installed as president, has sought to right the wrongs that have accrued over the past seven years.

So far so good, as since taking the highest office of football here, Fraser has taken the lead in healing wounds, mending fences, erecting and reinforcing bridges.

Fraser, on his election in August, had promised inclusion and he has thus far walked the talk and is practising what he has preached and what he has promised.

Therefore, last Friday, when it was formally announced that Kendale Mercury was taking charge as head coach of the senior men’s team, that again represented a step in the right direction.

This column has always advocated that apart from Mercury’s UEFA B licence qualification, he possesses other attributes that are pertinent to modern day football coaching, especially in the context of the Vincentian set up.

However, he like others, was ostracized and marginalized, simply because they could not be twiddled around the thumb of the former president of the SVGFF Venold Coombs.

But the monkey is off the back of St Vincent and the Grenadines’ football, giving Fraser and company the leg room to apply some levels of meritocracy.

Before Mercury, the Coombs-less executive had roped in Clemroy Francois and Yoland London, both who have been at variance with the former disgraced president.

Francois and London were recipients of the verbal acrimony of Fraser’s predecessor, such that they had little interplay with national football, despite their willingness to offer their expertise in the service of the country.

Similarly, Ian Sardine, who was in the wilderness of national football administration for some time, for the same reason(s) which kept Mercury, Francois and London operating as mere spectators; he has been rekindled.

Sardine, with his unequalled tenacity and passion for youth football, has been installed as the coordinator of the SVGFF’s national youth development efforts.

Whilst one should readily applaud Fraser and company for their practice of inclusion, they still have to weigh their options with due diligence and apply a meticulous approach.

Fraser and co are in a privileged position to reshape the tarnished image of football in St Vincent and the Grenadines, not by cosmetics, but utilising effectively, the many programmes as the conduits.

They have been given the tools to work with and have learnt from the perfect non- examples left by the immediate past president, of how not to lead the sport, thus avoid the pitfalls and the mire which football has been placed.

Taking a step by step pathway, things have to be reversed with astute planning and execution.

The recent strengthening of the technical staff, is just one part of the whole, as the results of the various national football units, gauge and evaluate the processes of development.

With this in mind, the appointment of Mercury cannot be a quick fix, as no one should expect a complete change in fortunes of the senior men’s team Vincy Heat.

The new head coach and his assistant Michael Harris have to, in the immediate future, fashion their philosophy on the players, as they prepare them for Windward Islands Football Association ( WIFA) and the Nations League qualifiers, all in the month of March, 2019.

This is so because of the string of poor returns that the team has registered in recent outings, as invariably, a country’s football pedigree is measured by the performance of senior men’s team.

Ironically, Cornelius Huggins, who was at the helm of the senior men’s team for over six years and 10 months, has been deployed to the senior women’s team.

Huggins, like Mercury has been put in a hard place, as during 2018, the senior women’s outfit lost all six matches in which they played.

The losses were compounded by the fact that they were only to score a solitary goal in the complement of matches.

Set aside the on field results, which undoubtedly, make or break the sport, the executive of the SVGFF has to continuously work to correct those kinks in its administrative apparatus, as they seek to move St Vincent and the Grenadines’ football forward.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Free movement of  people in 4 Caricom states begins tomorrow
    Front Page
    Free movement of people in 4 Caricom states begins tomorrow
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Many Vincentians and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals are welcoming the decision by four CARICOM governments to institute the free moveme...
    ‘Unprincipled  non-state operators in Europe seeking to pollute” elections in SVG – PM Gonsalves
    Front Page
    ‘Unprincipled non-state operators in Europe seeking to pollute” elections in SVG – PM Gonsalves
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, told the United Nations (UN) General Assembly a few days ago that entities in the international sphere are seeking...
    Bramble promises $1 million from CBI money for 50  businesses in East Kingstown
    Front Page
    Bramble promises $1 million from CBI money for 50 businesses in East Kingstown
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    The opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), moved its campaign to Sion Hill last Saturday, September, 27,2025 as it seeks to retain its hold on the Eas...
    PM calls at U N meeting for better deal for Taiwan, Haiti
    Front Page
    PM calls at U N meeting for better deal for Taiwan, Haiti
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves renewed his call at the United Nations for the inclusion of Taiwan in the organisation’s specialised agencies. Deli...
    Over EC$700,000 paid to VincyMas 2025 Winners
    Front Page
    Over EC$700,000 paid to VincyMas 2025 Winners
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    More than EC$700,000 in prize money was handed out to the 2025 VincyMas winners, on Sunday night, September, 28,2025, at Carnival City, Victoria Park....
    Caribbean launches Shelter Working Group to boost Disaster Preparedness
    Press Release
    Caribbean launches Shelter Working Group to boost Disaster Preparedness
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    As the Atlantic Hurricane season reaches its peak, more than 47 disaster management professionals from across the Caribbean and beyond have joined for...
    News
    Rose Place woman  remanded for threatening to “blow out” man’s head
    From the Courts, News
    Rose Place woman remanded for threatening to “blow out” man’s head
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    A woman who resides at Rose Place was remanded after threatening to “blow out” a farmer’s head. Rasharma Pollard appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’...
    Court grants father’s request for jail time for his son
    From the Courts, News
    Court grants father’s request for jail time for his son
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    A father’s request was granted when his son, who had pointed a gun at him, was imprisoned. Simon Simmons appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court ...
    Cervical cancer initiative launched in SVG
    News
    Cervical cancer initiative launched in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented and even eliminated, provided that countries strengthen their vaccination, screening, ...
    Prayer sustains woman  caring for her husband who has Alzheimer’s Disease
    News
    Prayer sustains woman caring for her husband who has Alzheimer’s Disease
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    The world recognized Alzheimer’s Day on September, 21, 2025, but for the Muhammad family, of Largo Height, Alzheimer’s is an everyday reality that is ...
    Librarian and Poet uses  spoken-word as a relief Valve
    News
    Librarian and Poet uses spoken-word as a relief Valve
    Webmaster 
    September 26, 2025
    Often times, people’s struggles, insecurities, physical issues and inner pain are masked by an exterior that looks strong, poised and well put togethe...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok