U-23 teams to vie for top spots
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SPIRITS in the Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Cuba and St. Kitts Nevis camps are high with each team expressing confidence of emerging victorious in the CFU Under-23 Olympic Qualifiers.
The four teams will be vying to grab a hold of two spots in the next round of the tournament - the CONCACAF finals - scheduled to take place in March 2012 in the US.
The tournament stretches over three days - today (Nov. 24), Saturday (Nov. 26) and Monday (Nov. 28).
Nightly, two matches will be played with the first commencing at 6:00 and the second at 8:00. Trinidad and Tobago will come up against Cuba in this evening’s first match and St. Kitts-Nevis will tackle Suriname in the second one.
Saturday will see an on-field battle between Cuba and Suriname and St. Kitts-Nevis and Trinidad. The final two matches will feature Suriname vs. Trinidad and Tobago and St. Kitts- Nevis against Cuba.
All teams have already arrived on the island and, during a press conference held yesterday (Nov. 23), were welcomed by representatives of the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) and the St. Kitts-Nevis Olympic Committee.
It seems the tournament will be a fiercely-fought one filled with intense competition and skill, because all of the teams have indicated that they would be walking away from the competition having copped one of the coveted spots.
The teams that advance to the next round of play would be competing against USA, Canada, Mexico, Honduras, Panama and El Salvador. And two from the eight will advance to the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in London.
President of the SKNFA Anthony Johnson indicated that the association was pleased to be hosting this round of the competition and indicated that such an opportunity would redound to the benefit of the footballers who would be observed by international scouts.
“We also want to emphasise that the opportunity that is at stake for our footballers. It is extremely important…the opportunity for exposure could potentially lead to the obtaining of professional contracts as well as university scholarships.
“We believe it’s enormous because it’s being held in the USA where, of course, many of the top universities that provide scholarships for our athletes are located. In fact, I am advised that during the course of the upcoming tournament, a number of coaches and scouts will be present on the island to look at the various games with a view to potentially offering opportunities for our youngsters. And that, we believe, is something that is immeasurable in terms of the opportunities that will be provided to our youngsters.”
Security and Traffic
Head of Security for the matches Inspector Cromwell Henry briefed the media on plans which have been set in motion for the hosting of the games.
He explained that the public has been very cooperative in the past and the same is expected during the six matches.
The security and traffic detail, he informed, is aimed at ensuring the safety of all at the stadium, effectively controlling vehicular and pedestrian management on roadways around the stadium and to maintain law and order.
Traffic Plan:
- On Victoria Road, traffic will only be allowed to flow from south to north;
- Parking allowed only on the western side of the road;
- Traffic will only be allowed to flow from west to east on Lozack Road;
- Public parking will be allowed at the Basseterre High School Grounds;
- Limited parking would be allowed in Carnival Village and on the parking lot next to the tennis court at Warner Park. This would be reserved for persons with the requisite parking passes; and
- Persons would be on duty to direct the flow of traffic and to ensure security of the vehicles.
Security Plan:
- Prohibited items – glass bottles, weapons, firecrackers;
- When you enter the gate, you will be subjected to a security screen; and
- Persons who carry licenced firearms, unless you are a police officer or soldier, will not be permitted to enter the grounds with them. These persons are advised to leave their firearms at the police station before attending the games.
Team St. Kitts-Nevis and representatives of the other teams were engaged in a promotional march through the streets of Basseterre yesterday (Nov. 23), during which the public was encouraged to support the games.
