SVGFF sourcing Cuban, Venezuelan expertise

The executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) is leaning on Venezuela for technical assistance in propping up its football programme.{{more}}

President of the SVGFF Venold Coombs, made the announcement Saturday, as he addressed the opening of the Hairoun All Leeward football competition at the Campden Park Playing Field.

“… There are over 8,000 advisors and technical persons in Venezuela from Cuba … There is an agreement between the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation — which I penned; the Ministry of Sports — which Minister Mc Kie penned and the Venezuelan embassy — which the ambassador (Yoel Perez Marcano) penned … that proposal where I requested someone with sports medicine to come here, … someone as a sports psychologist, among others, to come here and help out in our next level — in our further advancement of our football,” Coombs stated.

Coombs said the move is indicative of the work being carried out by his administration since taking office on September 24, 2011.

A confident Coombs noted that since taking over the reins of national football, the sport has become a year-round activity, with the national inter-league/community championship and the national club championship dovetailing each other.

The local football boss revealed that another proposal has been forwarded to football’s world governing body, FIFA, for them to fund one year of a three-year island-wide grassroots programme.

“… We are serious about development … We want to start from the nursery right up to the senior level — the mature level, the masters level.”

Coombs reaffirmed that the upcoming national inter community/league competition will see another $40,000 spent in prize monies — with the winner of the senior competition receiving $10,000 and the second place — $6,000.

Cash awards are also in line for the top places in the Under-17, Under-13, as well as the senior women’s division and the masters segment – for which the SVGFF is collaborating with the SVG Over 35’s organisation. (RT)