The Anguilla Football Association’s press conference on Tuesday, March 16, provided an opportunity for a number of persons in attendance to tour the remarkable accommodation suites for local and visiting players.
The newly-completed building, on the northern perimeter of the Anguilla Football Academy, looks on the outside like any simply-built structure. But, inside, it has a very impressive design and has been described as a fantastic place. Downstairs, there is an extensive commercial kitchen, a sprawling dining area and an equally large conference area.
Upstairs presents an even more impressive arrangement. There are 24 beds, two in a spacious room, all with television and other facilities. It is the type of posh accommodation that one would see in some of the small, but appealing, properties in Anguilla.
Among those on the tour, was Anguilla’s longstanding sports enthusiast and commentator, Mr. Ralph Hodge.
“This is a fantastic place. I would blame those involved in the management of football for not allowing the public to know about this facility. This is a better facility than you would see almost anywhere in the West Indies – and I think it can challenge…the rest of the world.
“This will be a great thing to control and keep it tidy and so on, but when you look at it from outside, the public does not realise what a wonderful facility this is. I just had the pleasure of touring it. There are 24 beds upstairs, with fantastic rooms – and there is a lot of space. The bathrooms are wonderful. Every now and then we should allow the public to know about facilities like this because the public will be saying all sorts of things about football. But, when you come here, this is just a wonderful facility. I sincerely hope that it goes from strength to strength.”
Meanwhile, the President of the Anguilla Football Association, Mr. Girdon Connor, said: “We want to have a full inauguration of the building and to bring in our FIFA representative to Anguilla for the occasion. It is a major investment and the project has been completed. For the time being, we have been making a soft usage of it for our national men’s and women’s teams.”
