FIFA?is backing the Barbados Football Association (BFA) in the construction of a head office at Wildey as part of the second phase of the Goal Project.
But the building of a stand for spectators at the AstroTurf artificial surface at the venue will have to wait.
After concluding an inspection of the facility on Wednesday following a meeting with the BFA’s top brass, FIFA’s development manager for the Americas, Gregory EngeIbrecht, and the development officer for the South East Caribbean, Howard McIntosh, said they were quite contented with the progress being made.
“The purpose of our visit is to review the status of the Goal Project of the Barbados Football Association (BFA) which FIFA is helping to fund,” Engelbrecht told WEEKEND SPORT in an exclusive interview on May Day while watching a Digicel Premier League match between Mackeson Brittons Hill and Youth Milan.
“It was a very fruitful meeting. We discussed a number of topics that are of concern of the board for football in Barbados,” said Aruban-born Engelbrecht. They met with BFA president Randy Harris, vice-president Al Walcott, general secretary Chris Graham and members of the association’s executive committee.
“First of all, we are happy to see that the AstroTurf is being well used and the competition is being played,” said Engelbrecht, who is based at the headquarters of the world governing body in Zurich. “There is training going on the surface and the surface is in very good condition.
“It is also being well maintained so that is very satisfactory for us. That is one of the reasons we try to help members to develop this type of project and we hope that it will contribute to the level of football in Barbados.”
The Goal Project is an initiative of FIFA, which provides the funds for the development of its affiliates through a training ground and offices but Engelbrecht said the sport’s governing body would evaluate any plan the BFA?has of building a main stand at the venue.
“I don’t think the amount (of funds) available would reach for offices and stands, so at this point, they are looking to build an office building on the facility which would give them a home of their own and save costs as well,” he said.
But he added that the building of a stand for spectators could be part of the next project.
“Once they finish the second phase, the federation can request a next Goal Project which could help build stands, probably covered which would make it more comfortable for spectators to also come and watch the games,” Engelbrecht said.
Despite noting that it is “a lovely facility” McIntosh said they made the visit to see what improvements can be made and the areas in which FIFA?can further assist.
“My job is to assist and facilitate the BFA in achieving its objectives, both with this facility and other objectives that they might have. It depends on the type of facility that the BFA intends to put up. At the end of the day, you have to budget based on what it is that you might be able raise in terms of sponsorship or work with the programmes that we have at FIFA,” McIntosh said.
“The facility itself has a lot of potential and based on our discussion with the BFA, it is going to be a phased development of this facility. The offices will be the next phase and then we can look at other phases which would include another field, possibly and the stands,” he said.
But McIntosh warned that throughout the Caribbean, it hasn’t been smooth sailing with all the Goal Projects.
“In fairness, there is a concern in terms of the goal projects generally, especially in our region and what we are here to do now is ensure that the BFA catches up in terms of the Goal project facility that it had planned for a number of years. And so, based on the meetings that we had even today (Wednesday) we see the commitment to do so now. We just have to see the execution,” the Jamaican remarked.
He, however made it clear that stands at the Wildey AstroTurf was not included in the second phase of the BFA’s Goal Project.
