Football Federation to name Technical Director soon

The name of this country’s new Technical Director will be known before year’s end.

That assurance has come from President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF), Joseph Delves.{{more}}

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT last Saturday, Delves said that his executive has received a number of applications to date.

“The Technical and Development Committee is in the process of short listing the applications”, Delves revealed.

The football boss thought that the list of persons vyeing for the post is made up of “excellent candidates”.

“We have had applications from England, Brazil, Argentina, here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Vincentians in the USA, and in Barbados”, Delves said.

He added that the person who is eventually chosen would be in place for the beginning of the new year.

The choice rests in the hands of the executive, following the committee’s trimming.

Since the departure of Zoran Vranes two months ago, Roger Gurley has been in charge of preparations of the senior national team, Vincy Heat, ahead of the world cup qualifiers in June 2008.

Vranes was contracted in September 2004, after Kittian-born, English based Cess Podd and his entourage were sacked by the then St. Clair Leacock led executive.

Investigations made by SEARCHLIGHT reveal Adrian Shaw, who was the head coach under Podd’s clan, is among the applicants.

Once the task of selecting a Technical Director is done, the continued preparations of the senior team will be stepped up a notch.

Delves disclosed that a number of warm up matches are on the cards for the team.

He mentioned engagements with Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Cuba and Venezuela among the countries on the list for friendlies.

Delves disclosed following a meeting held last month with this country’s Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves that mechanisms have been put in place to facilitate government to government approaches, specifically Cuba and Venezuela.

“We expect to play at least one friendly before the end of the year”, Delves said.

Delves said that several overseas based players, with Vincentian connections, have already shown their intentions to be part of the team.

But, the executive efforts to explore all possibilities of recruiting players have been hampered by the fact the SVGFF’s website is down, because of the non-payment of the cost of its operation. (RT)