SKNFA gives over EC$0.5M grant to member clubs

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH football set to resume in the coming days, member clubs under the umbrella of the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) are benefiting from over an EC$500,000 grant to restart the league.
 
As promised by the SKNFA, each member club would benefit from an EC$574, 000 payment ahead of the restart of the curtailed season.
 
According to the local governing body, its Executive Committee approved the immediate cash payment to its member clubs ahead of the resumption of the 2019-2020 football season.
 
Under the plan, all Premier Division Clubs are eligible for a maximum amount of EC$40,000, while Division One Clubs will receive a maximum amount of EC$35,000, provided that they meet key Club Licensing Criteria milestones for the 2019-2020 season.
 
In a statement, the SKNFA noted that clubs are eligible for the second tranche of financial assistance in January 2021 following submission of a report on the use of the funds in the first tranche in keeping with the supporting regulations.
 
No football has been played since the suspension of the league in March due to the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
 
Now that the Government and health officials are easing the restrictions on sporting activities, which now allows competitions, “the SKNFA is working assiduously to ensure that the football leagues are able to resume in a safe environment for everyone”.
 
“An application to restart the leagues in September, along with a comprehensive plan following strict COVID-19 safety protocols, has been submitted to the COVID-19 Task Force for approval,” the SKNFA noted in its statement.
 
Meanwhile, the local body said: “The payment to the clubs followed disbursement by FIFA of the first tranche of US$500,000 COVID-19 Relief Plan Funds to its 211 Member Associations. The amount allocated to the clubs means that 42% of the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan funds will be invested directly in the clubs for their development. The remaining 58% will be invested in the SKNFA’s efforts to restart football, which will positively impact the clubs indirectly and the overall development of football in St. Kitts and Nevis; specifically in the areas of (a) assistance to national team players, (b) stadium sanitization, (c) purchase of sanitation supplies and equipment to combat the spread of COVID-19, (d) the cost of testing, (e) urgent repairs to Warner Park Stadium and others.”
 
It was at a simple presentation ceremony last month that officials at the SKNFA indicated that they would be providing financial assistance to member clubs in a bid to restart the league.