Mr. Evans McNiel Rogers and Mr. Damien Hughes
The Anguilla Football Association, in collaboration with FIFA, its major financier, and the Anguilla Government, has broken ground for Part A of the second phase of the development of recreational and sporting facilities on the island.
Construction work commenced on Monday morning, May 26. The project will be built in two parts. Part A will comprise twelve dormitory rooms, a sports shop and a dining area at a cost of US$500, 000 .The contractor is Mr Louis Liburd of PACE Construction. Part B will comprise twenty-two dormitory rooms, fencing, a training field and cisterns. The estimated cost is US1,000,000 (one million dollars) for which funding from FIFA is to be sought later.
The addresses at the groundbreaking ceremony were delivered at the Football Stadium on Sunday evening, May 24, at the James Ronald Webster Park Annex. The ground was broken at the northern end of the property where the new undertaking is called “AFA Goal Project ll.”
The first phase of the project, now in use, comprises the Anguilla Football Stadium with a grandstand seating capacity of 1,100; a conference room; offices; a gym; changing rooms and showers; a grass turf field; a security fence and lighting facilities.
Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism and Sports, Haydn Hughes, speaking on behalf of Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes, said he was not only proud of the work of the Anguilla Football Association, but also of the commitment of the players, particularly the female teams.
“I have no doubt that this investment has been great for the social and sporting development of our youth,” he stated. “I thank all, in particular, FIFA, for financing the same and I want them to know that they have a partner in Government. I also want the Anguilla Football Association to know that they have the full and unwavering support of the Government of Anguilla.”
Hughes expressed appreciation that the new dormitory would provide accommodation for visiting football teams as well as local players. “The Government of Anguilla and the Anguilla Football Association are about to reaffirm their partnership through a new Memorandum of Understanding that will take into consideration the development of facilities on both ends of the island,” he added.
FIFA’s Development Officer in the Caribbean, Ms Angeline Kanhai, said in part: “The dormitory project will undoubtedly be a meaningful addition to the AFA facilities. While Anguilla may not yet have the resources or population to challenge some of our larger neighbours, you are ahead of the pack when it comes to facilities. You are already one of the few regional Football Associations to have its own stadium. You will be one in less than a handful to have your dormitories of the size projected. Along with that, you will have the possibility of hosting numerous teams.”
Ms Kanhai added that FIFA was happy to support the project. She thanked Mr Raymond Guishard, President of the Anguilla Football Association, in particular, for his dedicated work and presented him with a token of appreciation on behalf of FIFA.
Mr Alkins Rogers, General Secretary of the Anguilla Football Association, who chaired the ceremony, joined in commending Mr Guishard for his outstanding hard work and commitment saying, that, “everything you see around here has Mr Guishard’s signature on it.” He described him as a visionary, referring to his future ideas and plans for the development of football in Anguilla.
Mr Guishard was happy that the ground was being broken for the second phase of the project. “This action will enable us to continue the dream,” he said, recalling the work of the Association over the years and in outlining the current and future plans. He hoped that he and his executive team would be able to continue to serve the best interests of the young people of Anguilla in terms of the development of football facilities.
Former Minister of Social Services, Mr Evans McNiel Rogers, who was involved in the early work of the Football Association, and its quest for playing facilities, was grateful to see the progress which had been made over the years towards that end. He joined in congratulating Mr Guishard and past and present executive members for their contributions, and was delighted that phase two of the football project was now commencing.
Mr Damien Hughes, General Secretary of the Caribbean Football Union, said in part: “From the perspective of the union, which represents thirty-one countries – the largest bloc of countries within the configuration of North, Central America and the Caribbean Football Association – we are happy to see the Anguilla Football Association take this dynamic move. It is a step that will allow teams not just to participate in tournaments, but to host them at the regional level.”
Mr Hughes, who just graduated as a Methodist Minister, added: “The construction of the dormitories not only represents an investment in Anguilla, but in sports tourism and effective player development.”
Those who participated in the breaking of ground were the Minister of Infrastructure, Mr Evan Gumbs; the Leader of the Opposition and Elected Member for Valley North, Mr Evan McNiel Rogers; Ms Kanhai, the FIFA representative; Mr Guishard and Mr Damien Hughes.
