Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) Donald Thomas has urged Vincentians to come out and support the Federation to the fullest.
Thomas spoke to SEARCHLIGHT last week Thursday out of the offices of the SVGFF. {{more}}According to Thomas, 250 million people play football globally. “It is of paramount importance that all people playing football in SVG support the executive to the fullest,” he said.
Thomas described this year as an historical year in Vincentian football. He appealed to the public to support the upcoming games, the first of which kicks off this Sunday at the Arnos Vale Playing Field. The second game will take place on June 20 and will feature Nicaragua coming up against St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the second leg of the first international game. The first leg will take place in Nicaragua on June 13. Admission to the local games is EC$10.
“I am very positive that team SVG will put aside their opponents,” said Thomas.
Thomas also spoke about the stabilizing of the local executive in an attempt to receive more assistance from FIFA.
Thomas, who was one of the three executives who attended FIFA’s 24th Ordinary Congress held in Grenada on May 2nd, highlighted certain aspects of the speech delivered by President of Concacaf Jack Warner. According to Thomas, Warner dealt with survival of the different football associations over the next ten years.
Thomas quoted Warner as saying that associations that are able to deal with the conflicts and pitfalls within the next ten years will survive. Warner was also quoted as saying that executive members must support one another and be transparent in operations, meanwhile learning to accept changes.
FIFA has moved from 11 to 31 executive members from its inception in 1904.
This is the centennial year for FIFA’s governing of football througout the world. President St. Clair Leacock, First Vice-President Ian Sardine and Acting General Secretary Earl “Caba” Bennette visited France where they took part in celebrating that country’s 100 years of FIFA football. They also attended other meetings.