– GFF ‘ok’ with shift in timeline

AS a result of the recent inclement weather, Greenfields, the company responsible for the laying of the turf at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) ‘Training and Development Centre’ and the country’s first ‘football stadium’, has shifted the deadline from the end of January to April.

The GFF’s president, Wayne Forde, second Vice President Rawlston Adams, first Vice President Bruce Lovell and Technical Director Ian Greenwood updated the media on the progress of the work done on the 8.5 acres land which was leased from the Eccles/Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

Nabi and Sons was sub-contracted to work along Greenfields and upon visit, contractors were busy ‘back filling’ the area where the pitch will be laid.

Adams who also happens to be the project’s manager, told reporters that the GFF does not see the shift in completion as a ‘delay’, but rather one that was necessary and understandable, given the increased rainfall experienced.

Forde said that it is the hope of the GFF to have the facility functional, since it will be equipped with lighting in accordance with CONCACAF and to accommodate between 3000 to 5000 spectator until it’s fully completed.

“The lighting system that will go in will be specific and we have selected the lighting level and it being specked in accordance with the CONCACAF system. We have selected tier two lighting which would allow us hold high level CONCACAF tournaments at this venue once it’s completed,” Forde explained.

While there will be other modifications to the facility such as the addition of a technical department that will also see the instalment of various training apparatuses that will allow for the development of talent; according to Forde this will in turn deviate from the original plan to have various types of pitches at the facility.

Forde said that in keeping the plans to turn the facility into training and development centre, the proposed modifications could see beach football and/or futsal having one of their several pitches removed.

Under the FIFA Forward Programme, National Federations are entitled to US$750 000 annually, but, in the case of Guyana, given the fact that it is the country’s first, Forde said that FIFA wanted to ensure that as much resources as possible are available, and as such, it was not possible for him to state the estimated cost of the entire project.

The GFF president also noted that the Federation and FIFA will next look to build a similar structure in Linden, and then Rupununi, after which the other parts of Guyana will ‘fall in line’.