Claudia Gardner, Gleaner WriterHANOVER:
NATIONAL TECHNICAL director of football, Wendell Downswell, has called on the Government and private sector to support rehabilitating Hanover's major football fields which, he says, are below the required standard set by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).
Speaking at the launch of the Sandals Negril-sponsored Hanover Major League football competition last week, Downswell said the parish would find itself in a precarious position should any of its teams qualify for the National Premier League (NPL), based on the poor state of the fields.
"Where meeting requirements as it relates to the NPL are concerned, if a team should qualify just now, you will find yourself in some problems. I take this opportunity to appeal to the Government and corporate Hanover to lend some support as it relates to the development of at least one proper field in the parish," Downswell said.
He said present JFF regulations stipulate that all teams which qualify for the NPL ought to have "a proper field with a good surface to play on" and stands with seating capacity of at least 2,000, in addition to full perimeter fencing.
"None of the fields in Hanover meets the JFF requirements of the NPL and if a team should qualify now, it would have to play in another parish, probably St. James or Westmoreland," Downswell said.
He said the two major grounds in the capital town of Lucea, Watson Taylor Park and the Colin Miller Sporting Complex at the Rusea's High School, were in need of resurfacing, fencing, changing rooms and stands. He also recommended that the Hanover Football Association (HFA) put income-generating and fund-raising measures in place to improve the sport and its infrastructure in the parish.
