Crowd size changes affecting all sports
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - MUCH to the disappointment but safety of fans and enthusiasts, the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association was forced to postpone its President’s Cup matchup set for last evening (Feb. 3) following a new directive that will affect all sporting events in the Federation being played behind closed doors.
According to reports, the Government has given the directive that all sports be played without spectators in the stands, beginning immediately. And now the SKNFA is the first association that has felt the impact.
In confirming the news, the SKNFA in a statement on its social media pages indicated that last evening President’s Cup matchup has been postponed, but the start of the league would go ahead on Friday (Feb. 5).
“The SKNFA Executive Committee has taken the decision to postpone the 2021 President's Cup scheduled for February 3, 2021 to a future date, due to ongoing consultations with the National COVID-19 Task Force. The SKNFA is cognizant of the challenges of the global pandemic and its impact on the hosting of sporting events, in particular, as it relates to spectators,” the SKNFA said.
It added: “St. Kitts and Nevis continue to be at risk from this global pandemic and as such the need for us, as a country, to continue to exercise precautionary measures to mitigate these risks. The health and safety of all our stakeholders are of paramount importance to the SKNFA.”
SKNVibes Sports understands that the heads of various associations were invited to a meeting with the Sports Minister, where the decision was revealed.
Reports out of that meeting suggested that the decision was taken by the Government out of an abundance of caution because of the presence of the new strains of COVID-19, which is 70 percent more contagious than previous viruses.
Minister of Sports Jonel Powell confirmed the announcement yesterday afternoon to SKNVibes and noted that a detailed press statement would be forthcoming from the Sports Department.
Meanwhile, it has not yet been determined if the various scholastic athletics meets will be staged this year.
Minister Powell told SKNVibes Sports that the stakeholders involved are still reviewing the current situation and are engaging the Task Force on the way forward.
He noted that currently “the events are not off the table just yet”.
