The grounds and building of the Anguilla Football Academy boast a special and pleasing appearance as the excitement builds up for the intense 90-minute return match between the National Male Football Team and their visiting counterparts from Nicaragua.
The match will be held on Sunday, March 29, commencing at 5 pm and all fans and cheer leaders are being requested to turn out in large numbers, wearing anything blue, and with colourful buntings, to lavish their support on the team.
President of the Anguilla Football Association, Mr Raymond Guishard, and Secretary, and Mr. Alkins Rogers, made that call while speaking to reporters at a press conference on Tuesday. They believe that such a massive show of support can inspire and spur on the national players in their efforts to defeat the Nicaraguans. The ambitious aim of the national team should be to repay the Nicaraguan team with a 6 – nil defeat rather than a draw, Mr Guishard indicated.
Just days ago, in Nicaragua, the Anguillian male team was defeated 5 – nil by the players there who, unlike the Anguillian footballers, are professionals fully-engaged in that sport. But Mr. Rogers and Mr. Guishard believe that with the determination, skilful playing and the will to win by the national team, coupled with the support and enthusiasm of their Anguillian fans and supporters, that the well-coached Anguilla team can succeed on their home field.
For the occasion of the FIFA-sanctioned match, there has been a lot of preparatory work at the Anguilla Football Stadium. In this predominant period of drought, the playing field is a picture of lush of green, occasioned by heavy watering and with the assistance of CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa. Gates have been mounted at the entrances to the premises, with a specially-marked area for VIPs. The field has been secured by concrete wall fencing – with painting the only thing lacking; the stadium building has been given a repainting facelift; inside, the expansive conference room is bedecked with the national colours of Anguilla, and FIFA football promotional posters and other images. There is also security camera equipment to scan the playing field and environs.
Special arrangements have been made for crowd control and other related matters, and Mr Guishard and Mr Rogers have been quick to explain that the aim is simply, in accordance with the FIFA expectation of Anguilla, to accommodate and administer the match at the highest possible level of conduct and service.
After the Anguilla/Nicaragua match, Anguilla will participate in a match against a team from Suriname, details of which will be given later.
