With the local soccer season heating up – the St Lucia Football Association [SLFA] is due to hold a Technical Meeting, on Tuesday (July, 26), to discuss the upcoming championships.
According to an SLFA official, respective leagues will be allowed one representative each at the meeting.
Issues on the agenda will include; The 2022 Senior Women’s Championship, the 2022 Island Cup Championship, and the 2022 Blackheart Championship.
The SLFA directive states that clubs/teams can register a maximum of 30 players from which a squad will be selected for each match. Each League must register two playing kits for the championship.
Other key items to be discussed, will include; Match Venues – Potential Hosting Venues (Desruisseaux, Philip Marcellin, Soufriere, Micoud, and Gros Islet). Hosting Arrangements will also be discussed with respective leagues.
The Administration and Structure of Championship will also be under review.
In further updates, two matches were played on Wednesday in the SLFA Inc. Div. II competition at Desruisseaux.
Results:
1987 All Stars vs. Black Panthers 2-1,
Bays FC vs Lancers 4-2.
In the Choiseul Football League Promotional Cup match played, on Sunday, at the La Fargue Playing Field:
Somos Jouvenes FC vs. Pein 53 FC 4 – 1.
Meanwhile, the Gros Islet Football League [GIFL] is preparing to participate in the upcoming “Bay Bay Knockout Cup 2022” sponsored by the Parliamentary Representative Kenson Casmir.
The tournament also signals the celebration of ‘Gros Islet Day’ as part of the calendar of activities. A GIFL spokesperson decalred: “With the recent completion of our successful Pre- Season Tournament, the Gros Islet Football League anticipates an exciting and competitive tournament ahead.”
On Wednesday, at a press conference held to launch the competition, President Shayne Paul indicated that the GIFL “continues to sustain and generate more football within the community.”
Paul noted that there were also plans afoot to organise a High Performance Training Facility utilizing the services of the best coaches available, to further enhance the development of the skills set of the young players within the community.
Tournament sponsor MP Casimir, expressed his delight with the strides being undertaken in football development, and looks forward to more youth development training programs for the young people in the community.
Moving forward, he said, the Ministry of Youth Development and Sport has signed a contract to establish fully solar powered lighting for the Corinth Playing Field, which will be the first of its kind on island. A site meeting was planned to involve the contractor to further conceptualize the works to be undertaken; while additional works will soon commence on upgrading the Change Rooms and the provision of Stands.
Plans are also fully on-stream for the establishment of Beach football in the community and to this end a site has been identified. In addition efforts are also being looked at for the establishment of Futsal.
Casimir reiterated that the sports ministry will continue to work closely with the SLFA as the major football body seek to further develop football on the island.
The ‘Bay Bay Knockout Cup’ tournament is scheduled to commence this Saturday July 23 and conclude on Sunday July 31.
Eight teams will participate in two groups, namely:
Group A – Gros Islet Veterans, New Generation, Monchy FC and GMC United.
Group B – Northern United, Dominators FC, Gros Islet Youth and Big Players.
Matches will be played at 5pm and 7pm respectively at the Gros Islet Playing Field.
Monetary prizes up for grabs are as follows:
1st. Place- $4000.00 Cash Trophy & Medals (18)
2nd. Place $2000.00 Cash Trophy & Medals (18 )
Most Goals- $100.00 Cash, Trophy
MVP of the Tournament- $150.00 Cash, Trophy.