Carl Dickson, President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation, says that his organisation embraces wholeheartedly, the decision by Concacaf to erect a ‘Home of Football’ to suffice all member associations of the confederation.

He advanced that it is the same appreciation for the soon to commence ‘Home For Football’ project here in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Dickson was among the delegates who were part of the ground-breaking ceremony for the project that took place December 2, 2023, in Cap Cana, Dominican Republic.

Speaking with SEARCHLIGHT, Dickson outlined the multi benefits for SVG and other Caribbean Football Union (CFU) territories.

“Travel related expenses which have increased significantly over the past two years and are considered  the perennial elephant in the room, will immediately see reduced cost as Member Associations will have the opportunity to by-pass US Visa entry requirements which also attract other ancillary costs for hotel, meals, flights and application fees, as more flight options will become available through regional air carriers to the Dominican Republic facility”, Dickson related.

The SVGFF President added: “There is also the benefit of achieving lower accommodation costs during competitions as the facility has the capacity to host multiple teams simultaneously”.

One who was integral in the selection of the Dominican Republic as the best choice, Dickson disclosed, “The process of selection was open and transparent and the Concacaf Finance committee of which I am a member were quite pleased to endorse and support the project”.

According to Dickson, Concacaf’s ‘Home of Football’ mirrors the imminent ‘Home For Football’, for SVG, of which he is leading the realization.

“Ultimately, there is no better feeling than to have a place to call HOME… This is the same feeling I intend to deliver to the affiliates and other stakeholders in football here locally when we too can celebrate the opening of our very own HOME for Football in Cane Grove.

Concacaf’s ‘Home of Football’ was conceived and designed in a manner that will facilitate multiple aspects of  football development for the confederation, inclusive of coaches’ and referees’ ongoing development programmes in a central and familiar environment.

Likewise, the facility will offer the hosting of major competitions with the additional benefit of lower production, travel and other logistical costs.

When completed, the Concacaf project will have several international sized fields, gyms among other Football related amenities.