BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRESIDENT of the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association (SKNFA), Anthony Johnson has signalled his intention to run for re-election as the head of the governing body for the sport locally.
Johnson, who is very popular in the football circle in St. Kitts and Nevis, made the disclosure this morning (May 30) in a media briefing in his office at the Sands Complex.
The two-term president told reporters that he is looking to further give back to the clubs and to increase player-development should he be re-elected at the June 25th Congress.
All of his plans, he noted, would be carried out with an experienced and competent team of officials from various clubs and representation from sister island Nevis.
His team comprises: Don Grant as First Vice President (VP); Corneil Williams, Second VP; and Executive Members Keithly Pemberton, Jamir Claxton, Alistair Williams, Dwyer Edmeade, Louis Williams, Tonya George and George ‘Brother’ Nolan.
The Attorney-at-Law laid out several proposals that he and his team plan to implement over the next four years, including giving a substantial amount of cash to member clubs prior to the start of the SKNFA season, foster and develop a better relationship with member clubs from Nevis, and to have all players at the club level insured.
Pressed on his comment that they would give a “substantial amount” to member clubs in light of gate receipts not fulfilling all commitments after security and match commissioners’ fees are extracted, Johnson noted that FIFA would be increasing its payments to St. Kitts and Nevis, and as a result they are expecting to trickle that down to the clubs for their development.
Questioned by a reporter on his biggest accomplishment over the past eight years as President of the SKNFA, Johnson intimated that there is no single greatest accomplishment as the development of the game was his main goal, while outlining several of them.
He pointed to the insurance of all club players within the Premier League as one of his accomplishments.
He stated that it would be heartbreaking to see a player(s) walking around with a sheet of paper begging for monies because he sustained an injury while playing a sport he loves.
From that perspective, the president declared that they would be putting the insurance aspect into the First Division, Women’s League and Junior Division as well.
Other accomplishments, on which he stressed, are the Sugar Boyz first European tour and the position they attained in FIFA’s Rankings.
Based on the feedback he has received from the 25-member clubs thus far, Johnson is confident that he could retain his post with those plans.
