Windward Islands Football kicking again

A proposal currently under study by the Windward Islands Football Federations could see the revival of the competition among the Windward nations.

This competition dates back many years when the sub- region held its own tournaments as they rarely got an opportunity to oppose the larger countries such as Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.{{more}}

Then, these larger countries were seen as football forces.

Many persons have fond memories of the Popham tournament played among the four -Dominica, St.Lucia, St.Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.

This tournament formed the showcase of football skills among the islands.

Once the central focus in the Windwards,the tournament has gone through several revivals ,at times filling the void left by the absence of other regional tournaments.

The last such revival took place in the mid-1990’ s, after the previous attempt in 1984 was short lived with the Shell Caribbean Cup taking over in 1989.

The Windwards competition proved then a duplication.

The new proposal though, could see the inclusion of the French speaking territories of Martinique and Guadeloupe, set for later this year.

The proposal will be dealt with early next month when the heads of the six federations meet in either St.Lucia or Martinique

Lodged in the proposal is the format of the competition, to be played in one territory.

A spokesperson for the St.Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation said that his organisation is buoyant with the prospect of this country once again getting a chance of showing off its football talents.

The senior national team has been inactive since its failure in January to reach the finals of the Digicel Cup .

A friendly international against Barbados was the lone encounter since.

St.Vincent and the Grenadines could be the major draw card for the proposed tournament following its performance in the recent World Cup campaign.

The tournament will be a testing ground for the new crop of national players.

When the senior team resumed training last week several new faces were visible.

Head Coach Zoran Vranes has indicated that he will be looking to his young charges to start the build up to World Cup 2010.

This country had its best outing in World Cup qualifiers during its last campaign which ended November.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines finished third in the group, one step up from its three previous finishes ,when the cellar position seemed theirs.

Vranes plans to build on this momentum from last year A plan which he hopes should see this country reaching the final stage of six in the CONCACAF Zone.