The Carl Dickson-led St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation(SVGFF) has hit another milestone with the approval of a drawdown of USD$400,000.00 from Football’s governing body- FIFA.
The funding, disbursed under the FIFA Foundation Recovery Programme, is earmarked specifically for the upgrade of the Technical Centre at Brighton.
As such, the SVGFF was able to cash in on the fall outs caused by the eruptions of the La Soufrière volcano in April 2021, to obtain the finances.
An application was made in this regard to FIFA on November 11, last year, with approval granted just about one month later.
In a letter dated, December 15, 2022, Head of FIFA Foundation Administration- Manana Manus, wrote to General Secretary of the SVGFF- Devron Poyer, informing him of the favourable decision.
Detailing how the funding will be disbursed, Manus wrote: “The FIFA Foundation will proceed with the release of an initial amount of USD $100’000 to the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation to initiate the project and cover the costs of the reconstruction of the pertinent football infrastructure…A remaining amount of up to a maximum of USD $300’000 may be paid in separate controlled instalments following the submission of all relevant project contracts and documentation, as well as interim reporting by SVGFF on the utilization of funds”.
A delighted President of SVGFF- Carl Dickson hailed this latest development, as ensuring “bright days ahead for St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Football.”
He disclosed that part of the funds will go towards the lighting of the Brighton Playing Field which, according to Dickson, will entail the installation 500 Lux of lights, which is about six and half times that which exists presently at the Victoria Park.
The lighting of the facility comes on the heels of a major refurbishment there, inclusive of fencing and upgrade of the playing surface. In 2020, the SVGFF embarked on that Special Project at a cost of EC $900,000.
The Brighton Playing Field and the adjoining Technical Centre, which serves as training facility and offers dormitory-style accommodation for national teams preparing for regional and international competitions, are on extended lease by the SVGFF from the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The current lease grants the SVGFF jurisdiction over the facility up to 2040.
Work on the Technical Centre began in 2011.
The continued upgrade of the Brighton Playing Field complements the announcement in 2021 of the purchase of five acres of prime land at Cane Grove, funded as part of the FIFA Forward Programme to the tune of EC$2.4 million, and earmarked as the site of the highly anticipated and long awaited “Home for Football”.
When completed, that facility will include a full-size international Football field, and a Technical Centre, designed to accommodate two teams and their officials.