The THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE GRENADA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
In This Issue
●●Football Season starts in May ●●Chelsea FC Foundation coaches search for top regional footballing talent
●●GFA
officials meet with Town of St. George MP
●●Preparations begin for CONCACAF Women’s competitions
●●GFA President seeks RGPF involvement ●●Four new clubs accepted into GFA ●●New initiatives to secure sponsorship in 2013
●●Football Festival in Carriacou ●●Making a mark of his own-Nick Nicholas ●●Tragedy strikes the Dominican Football Team ●●Anthony Modeste off to Jamaica ●●Grenadian Appointed to CONCACAF Appeals Committee
●●GFA launches website
Issue 7 - April 2013
Football Season starts in May
T
he Grenada Football Association 2013 football season will kick off in May.
Four new teams will be playing in the second division this season. They are St. George’s University, Gouyave FC, Christian Strikers and Sunsetters. These clubs were admitted into the association at the recently convened Grenada Football Association, Annual General Meeting.
spectators. Blair who is also President of the St. Andrew’s Football League, is encouraging fans to come out and witness an exciting opening.
Head of the Competitions Committee, Peter Blair says the season will be a well organized one with more weekend matches geared at attracting more
The Grenada Football Association season will run from May to November with matches in the Premier League, First and Second Divisions. 1
Chelsea FC Foundation Coaches Search for Top Regional Footballing Talent Caribbean and Central America in search of the top 30 aspiring young footballers to participant in a week-long Digicel Chelsea Academy in Barbados in October. Digicel Group Marketing Operations Director, Kieran Foley, said, “Last year, Digicel moved into a new partnership with European and FA Cup Champions, Chelsea Football Club. The association brought great excitement and anticipation around both the Clinics and the Academy, and is set to do so again this year.
The Chelsea FC Foundation arrived in Grenada on Monday 22nd April, 2013. This is the first year the Digicel Kick Start Clinics will be led by the coaches from Chelsea FC Foundation who will travel across ten countries in the
This year’s format, in addition to training the best of each country’s young players will also provide a separate session where each country’s top youth coach will be taken through the very latest in training and coaching techniques as used by Chelsea FC’s youth teams.
ADVERTISE HERE CALL 440-9903
2
GFA Officials Meet with Town of St. George MP
As part of the Grenada Football Association aggressive efforts to secure lands for the construction of its administration building, a delegation of the association met with Member of Parliament for the constituency of the Town of St. George, Nickolas Steele to tour a few perspective sites. Among the locations visited were the old Sawmill facility in Queen’s Park, the current location of the River Road/ Darbeau Community Centre, Government’s Laundry Facility and the Ministry of Health in Queen’s Park. After much discussions and deliberations between the GFA officials and the parliamentary representative for the area, the GFA officials made known to Honourable Nickolas Steele of their preferred location.
Steele who is also Minister of Foreign Affairs requested the GFA send correspondence to the Ministry of Sports seeking their submission to cabinet on behalf of the Grenada Football Association. The constituency representative told the gathering he is anxious to see the association start the project and urged the GFA to work speedily in submitting their correspondence regarding the association’s priority location. He promised to assist in lobbying on behalf of the GFA in ensuring that the project starts soon. “This project will bring much needed jobs during construction. We want to make sure that those with the necessary skills, can be gainfully employed” Steele said. Steele also commended the GFA on
the progress made over the past two years and encouraged the association to continue to provide hope and direction for the nation’s youth. The delegation visiting the site with the member of parliament and parliamentary representative for the area included GFA President Cheney Joseph; Chairman of the GFA Goal Project Committee, Ken Whiteman; GFA’s Acting General Secretary, Lester Smith and Media Officer Malaika Church. FIFA has awarded the GFA a second Goal Project totaling five hundred thousand United States Dollars. The project was approved in September of 2012 and will see the construction of an administration building with a multi-media conference room, cafeteria, technical and referee centre.
3
Preparations begin for CONCACAF Women’s Competitions The Grenada Football Association has commenced its preparations for participation in the preliminary round of CFU U-17 and U-20 tournaments. The women’s team commenced its training with a series of trial matches at the Queens Park Ground 2. The GFA has named Jerry Alexis and Kennedy Phillip to spearhead the preparations for these tournaments which are expected to take place in July and August of this year. Both coaches attended the German International B Coaching License in recent times and have indicated their intention to secure qualification for the next round of competition taking place in December. The U-17 Women Qualifiers is carded for August 19-26, 2013 in the Dominican Republic while the U-20 women will be held in Suriname from July 14-21, 2013. An open invitation has been extended to persons who are eligible and wish to represent the island. The women’s program will be overseen by GFA Women’s Coordinator Franklyn “Nat” Simpson and his assistant Dean Jules.
4
Meanwhile, the Grenada Football Association is preparing for its national women’s league taking place in September of this year. The GFA is encouraging players with an interest to contact the various clubs in their area.
GFA President seeks RGPF involvement President of the Grenada Football Association (GFA), Cheney Joseph believes the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) would be a good catalyst for promoting character building among our young people and a stronger togetherness within the community. Joseph is confident that the Royal Grenada Police Force and GFA can be great partners and he is determined to make a worthwhile relationship between both organisations. “I have had this desire to build a strong partnership between ourselves and the police force. I am hoping that this desire can be turned into a reality this year,” he said. According to the GFA President, the police are a very important organ in shaping communities, building character and changing the lives of persons experiencing challenges. Having such a young population peer pressure is one of those challenges
experienced through the island. Joseph wants to engage the hierarchy of the police here in the tri islands to establishing a Memorandum of Understanding which will see the police more active in sporting activities, with the GFA being their first avenue. “I am anticipating having a discussion with the RGPF to discuss how units can participate in our community programs, Grassroots football as well as women’s development, refereeing and administration,” Joseph lamented.
“The Royal Grenada Police Force is also an affiliate of the Grenada Football Association and has provided yeoman service to the GFA in the past,” Joseph stated. “We have seen Presidents, Directors, Referees, Coaches and players serving the association in the past from the police force and we must engage them once more,” the GFA President stated. The GFA President says he will be discussing this matter with his colleagues and hope they will see the benefits of his vision to work closely with the police.
“The police are an integral part of society and if we can engage them in some of our activities, we will meet our objectives with greater success,” he stated.
Interpol has been working closely with FIFA and has enjoyed many successes in combating some of the illicit activities in the sport.
The GFA President says he will be seeking an audience with the RGPF to discuss this matter and hopes to secure their interest.
Joseph hopes that the GFA will follow suit in the not too distant future.
5
Four New Clubs Accepted Into GFA
The General Council of the Grenada Football Association has admitted four new clubs into the association at its Annual General Meeting on March 30th, 2013. Three of the new members presented a brief presentation to the General Council on why they should be accepted into the association. The General Council having reviewed these presentations gave unanimous support to the applicants. The General Council gave the green light for Gouyave FC, Christian Strikers, Sun Setters and St. George’s University to enter into the association.
had their case presented on their behalf by the GFA President Cheney Joseph to the General Council. Following his brief presentation, the members also agreed to accept their application. All four organizations will now be able to participate in future Grenada Football Association activities including the 2013 football season which starts on May 11th at the Grenville recreation ground in St. Andrew. The acceptance of the four new members now brings the total number of affiliates to thirty nine (39) within the association.
St. George’s University who were not present at the meeting
GFA congratulates Guyana Football Federation’s New President Grenada Football Association extends congratulations to the new President of Guyana Football Federation, Mr. Christopher Mathias on his resounding victory in their recently held General Elections. On behalf of the GFA Executive Committee and members we wish to extend our best wishes and look forward to working closely with the new President. We wish you all the best in your tenure as President and offer our solidarity to your new Executive Committee.
6
New Initiatives to Secure Sponsorship in 2013 provided to the general public in hopes of exposing team’s capabilities. At its recently convened Executive Committee meeting, the decision was taken to play more games on the weekends for the upcoming football season, as well as, look at the possibility of introducing entertainment to patrons at a small fee. The GFA has been reviewing its operations and competitions and are of the belief that spectators will welcome this new initiative aimed at bringing the crowd to the various venues around the island.
The association is embarking on a major sponsorship drive in 2013 for its affiliates as well as the various arms of its programs. The General Council has endorsed the decision taken by the Executive Committee as well as the Marketing Committee to pursue financial assistance for its members. The association is seeking to improve on the product
Only thirty percent of the GFA’s thirty nine members’ affiliates are presently receiving some level of sponsorship. President of the Association, Cheney Joseph has been engaging some private entities on behalf of clubs with a view to secure support and sponsorship. Happy Hill United is the newest member of the GFA to have secured a commitment from Ford and another four clubs are currently involved in negotiations with the potential to secure sponsors.
7
Football Festival in Carriacou On the 24th March, 2013, Dover Grounds came alive as over 100 kids from Carriacou and Petite Martinique participated in the Grenada Football Association Football Festival. This event was a celebration of the sport football in hopes of creating a stronger togetherness among parents and coach educators on the islands.
8
Making a Mark of his own- Nick Nicholas “Football will open doors for me to further my studies, but I still need to have the grades to even be considered.” Blessed with the capabilities that his father, Leslie Nicholas once possessed, sixteen year old Nick Nicholas, a center mid-fielder, is next in line to make a mark of his own. A form five student of the Mac Donald College, Nicholas says that his drive for the sport comes from the energy of his team and the continual support of his family. “We move in sync when we’re on the field, maneuvering the ball to each other executing what we have learnt in practice. My family has been behind me one hundred percent as I work towards achieving my fullest potential.” Despite the love Nicholas has for football, his main focus at this time remains his studies as he prepares for CXC. “Football will open doors for me to further my studies, but I still need to have the grades to even be considered. I envision myself being an electrical engineer later on in life with my passion being equally divided among the two, engineering and football.” Nicholas is a huge fan of Manchester United and respects the team spirit that is shown by the players, “Their ability to pull together when they’re not in the lead always amazes me. The team spirit is what I really admire the most about them.” As the 2013 football season draws near Nicholas has us all awaiting his next move.
Tragedy strikes the Dominican Football Team We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives within our footballing community. It is our knowledge that both Kirt Hector and Norran Jno Hope were on their way to represent their country in a sport they both dearly loved when they become victims of a tragic accident. The Grenada Football Association extends its deepest
condolences to the people of Dominica, the Dominican Football Association and the immediate families. The entire football family of Grenada wishes to pay their respects to these two patriarchs. President of Grenada Football Association, Cheney Joseph says, “This news was indeed an unfortunate one as the revival of Windward Island Football was set to begin. We send our condolences to the Dominicans affected by this unforeseen lost.“ The Windward Islands Cup 2013 runs from 22nd -29th April in St. Vincent.
9
Anthony Modeste off to Jamaica Former Grenada National Player and Captain, Anthony Modeste is attending a level 1 Coaching Certification Course in Jamaica. The course is hosted by the Jamaica Football Federation and U-Tech Coaching School from April 6th to May 12th, 2013. Modeste, who captained the island’s national team for almost two decades, was selected by the association as part of its plan to train more persons in 2013. The association is currently placing more emphasis on providing training to its coaches as it
rebuilds its inventory of qualified personnel throughout the tri-islands. The course involves sixty (60) hours of theory and practical sessions covering the following areas: the role and responsibility of an effective coach, planning training sessions, skills development, effective communication, player motivation, nutrition for players, injury prevention, fundamental technique and technique development. Modeste is also expected to be afforded the opportunity to assist his former club, Harbour View, on an assignment during his visit to the island, which was an added bonus to his trip. In February of last year, Modeste coached the national team in a friendly against Guyana and has also been coaching the Grenada Boys Secondary School football team. Having recently relocated to his village, River Road, Modeste will be coaching Premier League team, Petro Caribe Queen’s Park Rangers in the 2013 season.
Grenadian Appointed to CONCACAF Appeals Committee Grenadian Attorney at Law, Ms. Karen Samuel, has been appointed a member of the CONCACAF Appeals Committee. In a letter of appointment to the members on behalf of CONCACAF President, Mr. Jeffrey Webb, and the CONCACAF Executive Committee, the members have been encouraged to serve with distinction for their term of appointment which shall be for a one-year period. Samuel, a former St. Joseph Convent, St. George student is a graduate of the University of the West Indies. She is also the daughter of former GFA General Secretary, Ambrose Phillip who served with distinction during the 1980’s.
10
This committee, Chaired by Larry Mussenden, President of the Bermuda Football Association, and Vice Chaired by Hector Trujillo, has been created to analyze appeals submitted by the Confederations’ Member Associations and offer guidance and recommendation as to the legal and disciplinary course of action, to be in compliance with FIFAs’ and the Confederations’ statutes and regulations. The Appeal Committee members include Navine Fleming (Anguilla), Charlie Cuzzetto (Canada), Nathania Rankin (Cayman Islands), Karen Samuel (Grenada), Hector Trujillo (Guatemala), Emanuel Cantave (Haiti), Jose Brenes (Puerto Rico), Anthony Johnson (St. Kitts- Nevis) and Oliver Smith (Turks and Caicos). The Appeal Committee serves to assess all appealed sanctions imposed within the CONCACAF region. The Appeal Committee would be the last step in the appeal process for community or administrative sanctions before arbitration.
GFA Website Launched www.grenadafa.com The Grenada Football Association (GFA) has a new website, www.grenadafa.com. The association launched its new website on March 30th, 2013 at the Annual General Meeting before the General Council, where it was well received. This new website will now provide the GFA with a medium to promote its work as well as feature activities relating to its various programmes. The website which was designed by Spicevibes Inc. is intended to feature the work of the various committees, the General Secretariat and its members. In launching the new website, Livonne Charles, CEO of Spicevibes said the new website will provide many avenues for the GFA to showcase its positive work. “This website will allow persons wanting to subscribe to the GFA’s newletter as well as communicate with the various
committees an improved avenue to do so,” Charles said. We have looked at FIFA, CONCACAF and many other associations and patterned the website to meet the growing needs of your members and fans,” he said. “The new GFA website will have the ability to translate our news and information in many languages as well as allow the GFA to do live streaming,” said Charles. Also speaking about the capabilities of the GFA website was acting General Secretariat, Lester Smith who stated clubs will now have an opportunity to improve on their communications and interactions with the GFA. President of the Grenada Football
Association, Cheney Joseph believes the launching of the new website will allow the association to improve on communications with the rest of the world as well as open opportunities for persons to be seen by the Diaspora. Police representative, Allan James welcomes the launch. “This is great stuff and the kind of progress needed in order for us as an association to move forward,” he said. “I am fascinated at the amount of information we can now get at the click of a mouse. We congratulate the Executive Committee on these positive moves, this is development,” James said. The new website replaces the previous one with a greater amount of opportunities.
11
Crack One Open Yes, eggs can be a good part of an athlete’s diet! Although eggs yolk is high in cholesterol being mindful of accompanying foods such as bacon, buttery toast, and greasy fried plantains can help cut down the extent of a health culprit it can be. Healthy sports players with no family history of heart disease have no need to toss the yolk and eat just the white. The yolk is nutrient-dense and an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Many players seek eggs for their high quality protein. The yolk offers 3 grams of protein and the white another 3 grams. That totals (only) 6 grams for the whole egg. Including a suitable side can make having an egg all that it’s cracked up to be.
Grenada Football Association
National Stadium, Queen’s Park, St. George’s, Grenada Tel: (473) 440-9903, Web: www.grenadafa.com Email: gfa@spiceisle.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GFAGrenada Twitter: NewsGFA 12