Historic World Cup Qualifiers In Nevis This Weekend Jermine Abel The Elquemedo Willet Park in Charlestown will be buzzing this weekend when action in the Caribbean Football Union Under-17 Female World Cup Qualifiers gets underway on August 22 . The St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) is pleased to be staging the competition in the sister island, according to its General Secretary Stanley Jacobs. “This is indeed a significant milestone for the SKNFA and for St. Kitts and Nevis in general, because for the very first time a major football tournament is being held on the island of Nevis.” The federation in recent times hosted both the under-17 and under-20 male World Cup Qualifiers along with the Girls Under-20 qualifiers. All of those matches were played at the mecca of football in the Federation: Warner Park Stadium. The tournament this weekend is being hosted in collaboration with the Nevis government, the General Secretary revealed. “It is historic, it’s tremendous and it is a big deal for us. We are indeed pleased to be collaborating with the Nevis Island Administration (NIA).” Speaking to the selection of the team, Jacobs indicated that out of several recent activities hosted by the SKNFA the interest was developed from the young girls. He noted that it was difficult to compile a group of young ladies together who have never played football and have them prepared for such a competition. “Most persons would have realized that the SKNFA hosted a number of activities geared towards promoting women’s football for 2015. We had two all-girls festivals. All of these were designed to promote and galvanize interest in the sport of women’s football.” Jacobs explained that plans are moving afoot to have the tournament kick off on Saturday . He added that competing teams from Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago and the British Virgin Islands have all arrived on the island for the games. Jacobs is urging persons on St. Kitts to travel to Nevis for the matches, adding that the association has arranged for a chartered vessel to be in place to transport persons between islands before and after games. “It will be leaving Port Zante on Saturday at 4:00pm. On Monday and Wednesday the vessel will be leaving at 6:00pm.” Action kicks off on Saturday at 5:30pm between Trinidad & Tobago and Dominica while at 8:00pm St Kitts-Nevis hosts the BVI. On Monday, August 24 , BVI meets Trinidad & Tobago at 5:30pm and St Kitts and Nevis plays Dominica at 8:00pm. The last set of games will be played on Wednesday, August 26 when the BVI tackles Dominica at 5:00pm and St. Kitts-Nevis challenges Trinidad & Tobago at 8:00pm.
