National Football Club Championships open Sunday

The long awaited prize- giving ceremony of the 2012 National Club Championships will take place this evening at the Football Federation’s office at Bentinck Square, beginning at 6: 30 p.m.{{more}}

The ceremony, will be a scaled down affair, compared with the 2012 ceremony, held at the Peace Memorial Hall in June last year. Tonight’s ceremony will pay out outstanding monies and awards for the 2012 National Club Championships, which ended December 16 last year and the 2013 Hairoun Beer National Inter Community League, which came to an end in May.

Avenues champed the 2012 premier division, with BESCO Pastures second. Taking the third spot was Layou.

Richland Park Pride and Joy won the First Division and Sion Hill was the runner-up.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that officials of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation are in ongoing discussions with the previous sponsors of the National Club Championships, the National Lotteries Authority, however, the deal has not been sealed for the 2013 competitions.

In the community league competition, Barrouallie trumped the first place; South Leeward was second, while Layou and Sion Hill docked in third and fourth respectively.

The opening of the 2013 National Club Football Championships is set for the Sion Hill Playing Field this Sunday, September 29. The opening, which had been originally set for September 15, will also move away from the normal venue Victoria Park, which is unavailable at this time.

The opening would see a match-up between two under-15 teams from 1:30 p.m.

This would then be followed by the official Opening Ceremony, then a Premiere Division match up from 4 p.m. between 2012 champions Avenues United and second place of the 2012 First Division Sion Hill.

The 2013 edition will see the introduction of an under-15 component, replacing the under-17 competition.

This age group division goes along with the established premier, first and women’s divisions.

Reports are that the executive has indicated to all football leagues that are in operation, that they would have to forgo matches on that day, to facilitate the opening of the National Club Championships.(RT)