Light at the end of the tunnel for Football

News that the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) has been able to secure US $400,000.00 towards the further upgrade of the Brighton Technical Centre, must hit a chord of acclamation.

Certainly, it must be joy to the ears, that the lighting of the facility is imminent, as there have been hue and cries across the country for the need to have more of the country’s playing fields lit.

Revelations are, that about 500 Lux of lights will be installed, making it more than six times what exists at the Victoria Park.

Despite the shortcomings at Victoria Park, we have to be thankful for small mercies.

However, the Victoria Park’s lighting is woefully inadequate, given the fact that there is now live streaming of matches played in the Premier Division of the National Club Championships.

Hopefully, more developments can take place at Brighton, in spite of the inherent limitations of parking and seating, that more top -flight matches can be hosted.

In the interim though, once the lighting is fully in operation, triple headers in the lower divisions of the National Club Championships can be held there.

Moreover, revelations of the proposed additions of dressing rooms and wash rooms, are similarly appreciated. Likewise, the restoration of the abandoned structure on the compound, with the addition of another floor, is greeted with delight.

Reports are that a gym will be put in place for the use of national teams, along with a conference room, and other amenities.

All these are pluses to the Brighton Technical Center, which in 2021, underwent much needed levelling of the playing surface. In that upgrade, the fencing issues were corrected, with the erection of a concrete perimeter.

Such developments and possibilities that are accruing at the Technical Center, engenders excitement and anticipation that should also illuminate the hearts and hopes of administrators, the Football public, players and indeed, the community of Brighton.

Critically, with the enhancement of the facility, the SVGFF has an asset that is partially exclusive to them, hence, national training and competitions can go ahead uninhibited.

Whilst the improvements in the infrastructure are welcomed, the subsets that are part of the whole are equally up for upgrades.

As known by those who have keen interest in sports, namely Football, would agree that we are not in the happy place that we ought to be.

We also have to concede that with greater effort, care, attention and political will, St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Football can go in a northerly direction.

Those in the know, would accept that Football development is more than what greets the eyes.

Therefore, with some of the groundwork being laid down, the onus is on the current executive of the SVGFF to commensurately address the sport itself.

For it is the results on the field that development is gauged and the status of our Football rated.

Hopefully, with the many advancements taking place, that nudge, that renaissance, that renewed focus by all stakeholders, will extrapolate into more favourable outcomes, when our various national teams compete in regional and international championships.

Similarly, the structure and operations of our local setups must go hand in hand with the vision set out by the sport’s administrators and executed at their best, by the affiliates.
The house is being prepared, but the structure has to have a firm footing to stand on.

Light is flickering ahead at the end of the proverbial tunnel; it is now for all concerned to see the light, and create that pathway in the shortest possible time frame.