By Neto Baptiste
The anticipated start to the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) domestic season has been delayed by a month with the body’s Premier Division, originally slated to kick off on September 21, now scheduled to commence on October 19.
The First and Second Division competitions are now set to start on October 22 and 21 respectively, both also a month later.
The Technical Director for football and former national defender, Sowerby Gomes, said the main reason for delaying the start of the competition is to give clubs more time to complete the new registration process while denying reports that the participation of local club, Sandals/Inet Grenades FC in the ongoing Concacaf Caribbean Cup, is in any way responsible for the delay.
“They are very much ready for the start of the Premier Division and they are one of the teams that have been the forerunner in terms of getting their team registered and prepared for the start of the season. So, in no sense of it, have they been behind in terms of lagging in terms of registration. What has caused the late start is the slow lag with teams being prepares in terms of getting the teams au fait with the new method [registration] we’re doing. We are going for all teams being properly registered through the intellectual property right and that has been the new method that FIFA is also all of the clubs to use. They are not just being looked at as teams but they are fully registered clubs within the association,” he said.
Gomes explained that the new requirements for registration are mandated by FIFA and that not all clubs are familiar with the new process.
“Ensuring that the clubs are properly registered, they have all their functioning members, minutes are there, their financials are in place and this is in addition to the players being registered but they must properly register as a business and this is part of the mandate of FIFA,” he said.
The TD revealed he is however pleased with the level of preparations presently taking place across the island as teams ready their players for the start of the competition.
“A lot of preparations are taking place all over the country with quite a few of friendly games and so taking place, even on the weekends so I know the engagement has been ramped up for the start of the Premier Division and the First Division along with the Second Division. I know that on that end, a lot of activities have been taking place across the landscape of Antigua,” Gomes said.
Three newcomers, Potters Tigers, Attacking Saints and Five Islands will join 11 others in the Premier Division for the 2024/25 season after all gaining promotion to the top flight.
Defending champions, All Saints United heads the list alongside former champions Old Road, Grenades, Greenbay Hoppers Parham FC and FC Aston Villa. The other teams are Garden Stars FC, Green City, John Hughes FC, Willikes FC and Pigotts SC.
Former champions Empire FC, SAP FC, Swetes FC and Rangers FC were all demoted to the First Division.
