The Anguilla Football Association, in collaboration with the Department of Sports, was pleased to announce last Friday, February 12th, that the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) had made available, to Anguilla, funding for the construction of four football fields in various localities on the island. The announcement was made by the President of the Anguilla Football Association, Mr. Girdon Connor, during a groundbreaking ceremony, at the Adrian T. Hazell Primary School, which served as a symbolic kickoff for the construction of all four fields.
Moderator for the ceremony was Chief Education Officer, Mr. Bren Romney. He welcomed all to the special occasion in the arena of local sports: “It is indeed a pleasure to have all of you here,” he said. “I recognise the Honourable Minister of Education, Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers, who is a proud member of the Adrian T. Hazell family.
“I welcome former students of the Adrian T. Hazell School, the Honorable Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Haydn Hughes — and the Honorable Ministerial Assistant, Mr. Merrick Richardson, who is responsible for Sports. I also recognise sports enthusiast, and elected member of District 7, Member of the Opposition, Mr. Cardigan Connor. In addition, I acknowledge the Director of Sports, Mr. Andre Collins, and members of the Anguilla Football Association, with its President Mr. Girdon Connor.”
Mr. Connor expressed his appreciation to FIFA: “I am grateful to FIFA, of course, for its contribution and funding.” He noted, “We have been speaking about this project for quite some time, and today we are happy and thankful that we have secured FIFA’s funding. All of the contractors have already ordered their equipment to get started. By February 24th, we would be able to bring in the equipment to begin creating the turf fields. Of course, we will push football more, but these fields are not just for the playing of football. They will create an opportunity for the playing of any other sport.”
Speaking of FIFA’s funding, the Anguilla Football Association’s Project Coordinator, Ms. Denecia Niles, said: “This project is being funded by the FIFA Forward Programme.” The FIFA Forward Programme enables football to grow globally — and it promotes the best possible conditions for football development worldwide — through providing tailor-made support for football development in each of FIFA’s member associations.
Ms. Niles continued: “Early last year, the FIFA Forward Programme provided us with funds to develop football fields on Anguilla. We are right now about to begin work on four of these fields, with three of the four associated with schools, namely the Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary, Adrian T. Hazell Primary and Orealia Kelly Primary. The other field, the Owen Mussington Field in East End, will serve the East End, Island Harbour and neighbouring communities.”
Director of Sports, Mr. Andre Collins expressed his pleasure with the project: “The Department of Sports and the Government of Anguilla are really excited about this project” he said. “It was one year ago that we signed an MOU with the Anguilla Football Association for the development of fields of the island.”
Mr. Collins continued: “Today marks the realisation of our plans and intentions. The agreement of the MOU spans a three-year period for the development of these fields across Anguilla. This is just the first phase of it, where we have outlined four facilities that would be developed.”
Mr. Collins said he looked forward to the commencement of the work on February 24th when schools close for mid-term break. He thanked the contractors for showing up at the groundbreaking ceremony, and said that their work is scheduled to take six to eight weeks.
The three contractors who successfully submitted bids for the building of the fields are: Ishmel Paris of Island Landscapes and Alliance Construction, who will be working on the Orealia Kelly Field; Michel Gumbs of Superior Landscaping and Irrigation Services, who will construct the Alwyn Allison Field; and Desmond Paul of Unique Landscapes, who will be constructing both the Adrian T. Hazell Field and the Owen Mussington Field.
– Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan
