By E. Glenford Prescott
Following the completion of the National Community Inter-League Football competition, various national teams will be involved at the regional and international levels, says SVG Football Federation president Venold Coombs.
Coombs said that the senior national team will be in action in the revived Windward Islands Men’s Championship.
The tournament scheduled for St. Lucia will be held on May 12, 14 and 16 at the Philip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia with two games being played each day.
This is the third edition of the men’s tournament, which was revived on the initiative of Coombs, who is also president of the Windward Islands Football Association (WIFA).
Coombs Told I-Witness News that the senior team should be well prepared for the tournament since most of the top players were involved in the Community Inter-League.
He siad the coaching staff will have a pool of players who are match fit and highly motivated and this should serve them in good stead in performing at a level to possibly win the tournament.
He said that following the Windwards Senior Men’s tournament, it would be the turn of the U23 players, who will engage their Dominican counterparts in Olympic Qualifiers over two legs in SVG.
The Dominicans are unable to host their leg because of international cricket and have asked the SVGFF to do so and they have agreed and the matches will be played on May 22 and 24, Coombs told I-Witness News.
The focus of attention will then switch back to the senior men’s team, which will engage Guyana Golden Jaguars home and away in June in FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Qualifiers.
Coombs, while not understating the importance of the WIFA Tournament, said believes that the FIFA Qualifiers to be of utmost importance and that the SVGFF will be making every effort to get the services of overseas-based players who make themselves available.
“The FIFA World Cup Qualifiers are treated as very important fixtures and we must, therefore, try everything in our power to have the best players on the field representing this country because you will notice that every country go out the way to have their best talent at home for these matches. So we will do the same once the resources are available to do that,” Coombs told I-Witness News.
The Under 15 squad in training for engagements in the Cayman Islands in August and the Women the reigning Windward Islands champions are continuing their preparations as well for upcoming fixtures, Coombs explained.
He again made the point of his stewardship as president of the SVGFF and his achievements over the period, including the recent Community Inter-League.
“I am for the development of football and you saw the attendance and quality of football we had here last week this is no accident, we are here to spread the game, make the players happy and get the fans coming back to the ‘Park’ the home of football.”
The competition came to an exciting end with three finals in front of a massive crowd, including players of yesteryear.
South Leeward edged Central Kingstown 2-1 to take senior title.