FIFA consultants recommend overhaul to SVGFF

Research findings relative to the state of St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Football have resulted in some key recommendations made by a team of regional consultants- David Abdul and Ian Greenwood.

Abdul and Greenwood thus revealed the must do’s to affiliates at a forum held on Monday, June 29, 2026 at the Methodist Church Hall, Kingstown.

Emerging from several months of analyses of amateur football here, Abdul and Greenwood revealed what the key priority areas should be.

They recommend that a dedicated staff member within the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF), be appointed to focus on Grassroots football development.

This is to ensure that Grassroots football development receives the attention and resources needed, separate from the technical and women’s departments.

In the duo’s examination of the present framework, they also charged the Otashie Spring – led executive of the SVGFF along with affiliates “ to restructure the SVGFF to establish dedicated positions for long term strategic planning and coordination across all football development areas ensuring a more focussed national approach”.

They, in addition, recommended that the SVGFF identifies funding and support opportunities, strengthens stakeholder inclusion and adapt and scale successful initiatives, whilst setting up an Association Football Forum.

As part of the call to action, the SVG Football Federation has been urged to expand and align Association Football programmes strategically; enhance participation tracking via a comprehensive registration system; elevate coaching standards through continuous professional development; and develop a robust organisational structure for Association Football, whilst fostering stronger collaboration amongst Association Football stakeholders.

During the period of fact finding, the Fifa Regional Consultants looked at other variables affecting the growth of the sport here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, inclusive of player pool, their ratings, and the availability and suitability of infrastructure.

The task is now in the hands of the SVG Football Federation, and all stakeholders to implement these recommendations.

President of the SVGFF Otashie Spring, has assured that his charges in the various departments will work feverishly to have the recommendations fulfilled.