Guyana seems to be one step closer to having the Goal Project become a reality after years of fruitful attempts to get the project off the ground.
When completed, the facility will provide the country with a much-needed FIFA approved international football stadium, a fact that has not eluded the Wayne Forde-led Guyana Football Federation, which has unanimously endorsed the Project since taking office last November.
Wayne Forde
In an exclusive interview with this publication recently, Forde explained that the contractor who will be installing the artificial turf have already been identified and selected by FIFA, and in a matter of days, the GFF will be releasing the list of public tenders for the sub-base work.
“Once we have selected the contractor for the sub-base work, we will convey that information to FIFA; they will then enter him into a contract. Once all of this is done, the project will start,” he further stated.
The FIFA Goal Project was initiated by former FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, for the benefit of all national associations. The Goal Project is a tailor-made development and assistance programme designed to realise projects based on the specific needs of the national associations.
Guyana was among the first five countries earmarked by FIFA to pioneer its Goal Project. However, despite efforts from the previous administrations of the GFF, the project never got going.
Meanwhile, with the Guyana National Stadium unavailable due to the hosting of the Tri-Series cricket featuring the West Indies, Australia and South Africa later this year, the national football team, Golden Jaguars, will have its ‘home’ games for round two of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Caribbean Cup Qualifiers against Curacao moved to Ergilio Hato Stadium in Curacao, due to the lack of an appropriate venue in Guyana.
With the Goal Project construction soon to begin, Guyana will be able to have a certified traditional football stadium at its disposal.
With its completion, Guyana will be in a position to host numerous home games without any hindrance. Forde is also hoping to have international tournament finals held right here in Guyana in the future, as this will be a huge boost for the football community.
The proposed site for the Goal Project is the Providence Community Centre Ground with 8.5 acres of land being allocated for construction.
