BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - IT is all systems go for the launch of the of the 2012-2013 St. Kitts-Nevis Football Associations (SKNFA) Digicel Premier League, which is expected to get underway at the Newtown Play Field tomorrow (Mar. 21).
The League was delayed for several months due to an impasse between the Association and the three member clubs, S.L. Hosford’s St. Paul’s, UDC Garden Hotspurs and Conaree F.C., which disputed the final positions of last year’s Premier League.
Speaking at a press conference, General Secretary of the SKNFA Stanley Jacobs declared, “It is a pleasure that we are at this point to be able to commence the Digicel Premier League…the start of the League has been long awaited.”
He also gave and update on the impasse.
“The current stalemate stemmed from the fact that both parties have been unable to come to an agreement on the composition of the intended arbitration tribunal. Both parties, sometime last year, had agreed on a three-member tribunal composing of one member of each party and a third person who would be the chairman. But that has been a sticking point for some time because both parties have been unable to agree on the chairperson of the arbitration tribunal.
“The SKNFA took the decision that in the absence of any agreement, then the next logical step and the next logical course of action will be to ask the Court to determine the chairperson of that arbitration tribunal.”
He disclosed that while preparing the papers to go to Court, they received a letter from the clubs requesting a face-to-face meeting with the SKNFA to try and come to an agreement.
“We agreed and that meeting was held at the Olympic office on March 7, 2013. Both parties put nominations on the table but the nominations the Football Association put on the table were rejected by the clubs. The FA, nonetheless, in an effort to move the process forward, said that it was in agreement with the nomination of Mr. Alphonso Bridgewater to serve as chairperson.
“As far as the Football Association is concerned with that major hurdle out the way, the arbitration can take place. So with that out of the way the arbitration can now take place tomorrow if the clubs so wish.”
He added that to date they have not had a response from the clubs about their nomination.
“In addition, the Football Association also received in writing from the three clubs, signed by their presidents, requesting their prize money for the positions that they finished in last season’s competition.
“The SKNFA has once again yielded in an effort to move the process forward and have the matter resolved and have paid out the money to the three clubs. So as of today, the SKNFA does not have any outstanding debt to the clubs.”
Jacobs however stated that nonetheless they are happy to announce the start of the Premier League.
He announced the names of nine of the 10 clubs eligible for the League but revealed that S.L. Hosford’s St. Paul’s is yet to register and was given up to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday (Mar. 19) to comply.
In giving specifics of the League, Technical Director Lenny Lake called for such an impasse to never happen again.
“The specifics of the League would be two rounds. Normally, it was three but we want to conclude by July with the hope of starting the 2013-2014 season on time. So we had to more or less scale down the tournament.”
He then went on to reiterate the Rules that would identify the final four.
“The final four, we are looking to kick that off in July…having played two rounds of matches. And let me for clarity state the Rule that is very important. The final four will be decided by the accumulation of points in the two rounds. That is how the teams will be decided in the final four. If there is a tie with any two teams, we go to goal difference. These are all in the Rules.”
He also stated that during the final four all teams would enter level on points for that competition.
Digicel, sponsor of the competition, was represented by Marsha Chatterjee who claimed that the telecommunications provider is now happy that the League is commencing. She announced that her company is offering a $50 000 sponsorship package for the League and also promised fans a number of giveaways throughout the course of the competition.
In a release today( Mar. 20), the SKNFA stated that the Digicel Premier Division League would commence tomorrow (Mar. 21) with the following teams:
1. Cayon
2. Conaree
3. Delphic Newtown United
4. Harris Paint St. Peters
5. Mantab
6. RAMS Village Superstars
7. S.L Horsford St. Pauls
8. SPD United
9. St. Thomas/Trinity Strikers
10. UDC Garden Hotspurs
The initial matches to be played at the Newtown Playfield are:
Thursday (Mar. 21)
6:00 p.m. – UDC Garden Hotspurs vs. Cayon
8:00 p.m. – Delphic Newtown United vs. SPD United
Saturday (Mar. 23)
6:00 p.m. – RAMS Village Superstars vs. Mantab
8:00 p.m. - Conaree vs. S.L Horsford’s St. Paul’s
Monday (Mar. 25)
7:00 p.m. – St. Thomas/Trinity Strikers vs. Harris Paint St. Peters