By Neto Baptiste
There will be an increased police presence at some ‘high profile’ matches during this year’s Schools Football Competition as part of combined efforts between the Ministry of Sports and the Antigua and Barbuda Royal Force to mitigate against violence at some venues.
This is according to Coordinator of Schools Football, Rowan “Porridge” Benjamin, who said that based on preliminary discussions with members of the police force, an increased and prolonged presence of law enforcement officers at high risk venues will be a regular a feature this season.
“You know they have some high-profile games where violence could raise its head, and so we are looking at the Technical Centre to host those matches, and until I would have met Frankie Thomas, who is the PRO of the police, because normally we have meetings with them but it didn’t come off last Thursday because it was a short day, [there will be a law enforcement presence]. What he has told me though, is that they are stepping up in terms of their surveillance, and they will be present at each one of these matches from start to finish,” he said.
Violence between spectators, and in some cases, players, interrupted a number of high profile matches in the under-20 division last season. Resulting from one incident in which a modified firearm was reportedly discharged from a bus waiting to transport students and players following a match at Clare Hall Secondary School in November last year. Two teenagers, aged 15 and 17, were arrested on serious charges related to the possession of a modified flare gun and a round of 9mm ammunition.
Despite incidents like that in the past, Benjamin is however confident that the league will be successful and competitive.
“There was a lot of football going on during the summer where the ABFA had their under-19 league and the under-17 league. There were at least two national youth teams that probably would have travelled, and even the females too, so therein, I expect a high quality of football. When we look at, especially, the under-14 we see some very good players, some out of that Primary School Cup. Teams like PMS were very strong last year, and they would have won four competitions out of five and I expect the same this year,” he said.
The coordinator also highlighted that this year, the competition stands to benefit from an arrangement between the ministry and major corporate citizens.
“We [coordinators] were asked to provide our budgets for our sport, because there would be a major sponsor and not only to sponsor football but to sponsor all the sports within the Ministry of Sports. There were supposed to have been some initial discussions, and it didn’t happen, but we were lucky to meet with the sponsor last week so it’s football we are looking at for this moment. It’s Cool & Smooth and we had a meeting with Amer Hourani last week,” Benjamin said.
The men’s competitions will start on October 3rd with the under-20 league, while the female competition is slated to commence in January, some three months later than normal.
