SKNFA Says Thanks to Fans & Sponsors

Basseterre, St. Kitts- with the 2011 CFU London Olympic Qualifiers now over, the St. Kitts & Nevis Football Association; SKNFA, has been extending its appreciation to the public in St. Kitts & Nevis, and football fans in particular, for their tremendous support over the past weekend.

The association’s president, Anthony Johnson, stated that his organization is also truly thankful for the exceptional financial and “in kind’ donations that were made by various members of the corporate sector, including the St. Kitts-Nevis Anguilla National Bank, Development Bank of St. Kitts & Nevis, Beaumont Park, St. Kitts & Nevis National Olympic Committee, TDC, S. L. Horsford & Co. Ltd and the Carib Brewery.

“It was this remarkable display of patriotism to the cause of our association and indeed the entire nation that inspired our players, officials and our association generally,” stated the SKNFA president.

He said hosting an event of this nature requires hundreds of thousands of dollars, which cannot be raised solely through gate receipts. It therefore takes the generosity of numerous well meaning business entities and individuals to ensure that the association meets its costs; which in this case were well over EC$250,000.

Mr. Johnson also had good words for the cooperation and facilitations provided by the Federal Government of St. Kitts & Nevis, thereby easing some of the burden that is a feature of hosting international sporting events of this kind.

With respect to the performance of our National Team, President Johnson admitted that though he would have been happier to see St. Kitts & Nevis qualify for the CONCACAF Finals, he and his association are certainly proud of the qualify performance displayed by the young U23 National Players, who represented their country well and should have every reason to hold their heads high, knowing full well that they brought moments of pride and joy to not only the 50,000 residents in the country, but also thousands more in the Diaspora.

The CFU Finals ended in Basseterre on Monday night, (28th November, 2011), when St. Kitts and Nevis was denied a place in the top two teams from the group, that will now move on to the CONCACAF Finals in the United States in March next year.

The home team ended its campaign on 4 points, similar to Trinidad & Tobago, but because the visitors had a better goal difference, than the local side, they will now join the group leaders, Cuba, who amassed 5 points, as the qualifying countries.

Suriname, with 3 points occupied the cellar position of the group. Matches were played from 24th -28th November, at Warner Park, St. Kitts.