By E. Glenford Prescott
Clubs, teams and individuals who excelled during the domestic football season and at the national level are expected to be rewarded today (Friday) July 17th 2015 at Frenches House, when the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) holds its awards and prize-giving ceremony under the theme “Rewarding Excellence”.
President Venold Coombs said “thousands upon thousands of dollars will be paid out to footballers”.
‘This executive is not only serious about football with words. We are showing it by action and deeds we are here for the development of the sport not to be a parasite on the backs of players.
“Our goal is to make sure that the lives of those who play football are improved substantially and we are doing so by rewarding them not only with trophies and medals but with cash so that they can buy a tonic and take care of a little bill here and there”.
Coombs said that the success of the various national teams and those in the Community Inter-league and Club championships must be recognised with tangible rewards and he is making sure that happens.
The president said that football in SVG has been impacted positively at every level, with seniors, juniors, males females and grassroots all getting plenty of attention.
“Our objective is to move football along at all levels and next week we will hold yet another grassroots course to give our coaches a chance to get involved in organised coaching because there is big money to be made in coaching and officiating, same like what is being made by the players. So it is important that coaches move to improve themselves”.
He said that from this course the coaches will be given the opportunity to step up to other courses towards the recently introduced D License Course now being offered by the CONCACAF.
The ceremony will hear addresses from the president with former national athlete and top sports administrator, Dr. Lennox Adams being down to do the feature address.
Among the most anticipated awards will be: Youth Footballer of the Year; Female Footballer of the Year and Senior Footballer of the Year.
The ceremony is expected to begin at 6:30 p.m. and is expected to be attended by area representative and Leader of the Opposition Arhnim Eustace and Sports Minister Cecil “Ces” McKie among others.
SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!
What kind of BS is this, thousands upon thousands?..Really…how about giving some precise figures. I will assume that the prize money for these tournaments and leagues had already been decided before a ball was kicked; right?…So all this ole talk is really just empty rhetoric?
And can you be more patronizing than thinking that the meager change that the Federation is giving out, will ” improve substantially” the lives of these players. WTF…Mr Coombs you outta place big time…is this the level of respect you have for players? I have always contended that classism is the most insidious illness of our society and is the root cause for most of our shortcomings in making the necessary progress to go forward. Classism emerges more so on an individual level through one attitudes and behavior. And this in turn influence our policies and practices, on an institutional level. Its the reason why politicians speaks so disrespectful to a certain section of the society…its why a former registrar could leave the country and then come back on her terms and get a slap on the wrist for stealing a ton load of money. Its the reason why the teacher was treated like a scalawag and dragged off her job and told she can’t leave the country…for what?…expressing herself on facebook….its the reason why businessmen can put their hands under the young girl dress who comes looking for a job with impunity…its why convent school went ballistic over the indiscretions of a child, and sanction the act of having fellow students belittle this child by a most distasteful protest led by so called adults.
But I digress, yes by all means give the footballers their prize money but don’t make it out to be some glorious noble cause by the Federation. Our sports people play their respective sport out of sheer dedication, fun and what I like to say, a good sweat. Some of our sports people have been fortunate to get scholarships overseas and go on to make a living playing their sports but the hard truth, those will be the very few and the vast majority will have to toil 9 to 5 to make a decent living.
Mr Coombs, I hope you are praying like a preacher locked in a room with a little boy; cause your day of reckoning is fast approaching. On July 23 FIFA is going to give their verdict on whether or not you were responsible for sabotaging Vincyheat chances of advancing to the next round of the WC qualifiers. Mr Coombs, it is my believe, if the verdict is against SVG, you and your whole executive should resign immediately. I personally believe that your people erred in allowing this player to take part in the games. If one is to follow the letter of the law, I can’t see how this verdict could be in your favor. However, maybe the footballing gods are in your corner on this issue and may very well safe your arse from public humiliation. For the sake of Vincyheat, I do earnestly hope so; it would be a shame to have to tell Vincyheat, their quest to reach the WC is over, not because of your own doings on the field..but because some genius within the federation didn’t the read the rules of the game.