Imperative for Leonora Stadium to be certified – Forde
Scotia Bank Men’s Caribbean Cup Round 3…
By Akeem Greene
The third round of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Men’s Caribbean Cup will kick-off within a one month’s time and Guyana’s Golden Jaguars are grouped alongside Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz and the Surinamese but the issue of concern for the football loving fans and officials is where will the matches will be played.
President of Guyana Football Federation Wayne Forde
The Jaguars are scheduled to play Suriname on October 8 and then the Reggae Boyzon October 11 at the National Stadium, Providence but the venue which was built primarily for cricket is currently having the pitch re-laid which would mean that the field is incapable of having international football action.
As such President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde in speaking to Guyana Times Sport on Thursday explained that it is imperative that the alternative venue, the National Track and Field Facility at Leonora, meet the necessary requirements to host the matches.
“It is Imperative for the venue to be certified because for a match of this nature, we cannot have it played outside Guyana, we need the home turf advantage” the GFF head lamented.
He added, “We have engaged the Caribbean Football Union (CFU)and they willhave their team come down for a certification inspection of the facility.”
During the second round of the CFU in June, the Jaguars had to play their intended home game against Curacao away in Curacao since the original venue of the game, the Guyana National Stadium was unavailable due to an international cricket engagements. The National Track and Field Facility at Leonora was then considered as the alternative. However, it was ruled out following a site visit by a team from the GFF, who observed that the outfield still required a significant amount of work to ensure its readiness.
The GFF boss stressed that thefacility being certified to host the matches is not limited to the playing surface but also the other amenities that comes with a match of this magnitude.
He explained, “there has been a lot of work done on that surface but a venue to host an international game of that nature, the quality and condition of surface is not the only factor the inspectors will look at, they look at the dressing rooms, seating, theentrance among several other things before they can arrive at a conclusion on accreditation of the venue.” Forde further stated, “It’sa lot of work, good work has been done by the management of the facility and I’m very optimistic the venue will be certified.”
Quizzed as to the possibility of the match having to move out of Guyana, Forde said “I don’t want to entertain those thoughts as yet, our thoughts and interests are to make sure this game is played in Guyana andthat the venue is certified for the match.” ([email protected])
