BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - FOOTBALL enthusiasts in St. Kitts and Nevis will get their first taste of European style of the sport when the Estonian national team arrives in the Federation for a return match with the Sugar Boys.
The date for the encounter is November 19, according to President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association Anthony Johnson. This follows a meeting between the heads of the two national football associations at a recent FIFA meeting in the United States of America.
Last year, while on their two-match European tour, the Federation’s national football team lost 3-nil to their Estonian counterparts on a cold North Europe night.
At a recent press conference to announce the Sugar Boy’s ascendency to their highest ranking, Johnson said that the fixture is a critical one for both teams, but it is more important for St. Kitts and Nevis as they are playing at home.
Additionally, players would have the opportunity to expose themselves to an international market; an opportunity that many people would not have, Johnson noted.
"This is the opportunity for us to play them again but this time on our home turf. Estonia of course is ranked higher than us in the world and it is a game that will be seen by persons in the European Market...They are 93 now.”
Meanwhile, with the national team making a big leap up the rankings to 92, the SKNFA will be looking to continue with its development programmes by hosting more internationally friendly matches for the local team.
The aim of this, Johnson pointed out, is to aid the team in its thrust to elevate further up the international ranking.
“We have spoken as well to other countries, African countries, who are interested in coming to St. Kitts and Nevis and playing. Sometimes it takes time to come to the actual agreement but certainly work is in progress on that,” Johnson said.
General Secretary of the Association, Stanley Jacobs explained that whenever negotiating international friendly agreements, associations are often required to sign a reciprocal clause, as in the case with the Federation and Estonia.
“It is not always that we will get to play all of our matches at home, because most times when you negotiate an international match the association will ask to reciprocate.”
