The Antigua & Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) is hoping that the government relocates its One Nation Concert which is slated for the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) on Saturday night.
This is according to General Secretary, Gordon Derrick, who said the fear is that a free concert of that magnitude could have a negative effect on the facility which could, in turn, further delay the progress of the Premier Division.
“It’s a free concert so I am not sure as to why it has to be the ARG. I am a little concerned. You know if we get between 7,000 and 10,000 people on a field and a little rain falls during the concert, and you have Burning Flames, WCK, Tian and Claudette you know what will happen to the field. And what will happen after that; and you know the field is still soft from the last couple of weeks so it is still wet,” he said.
The concert, which will feature a number of regional and local acts is slated to start at 8 pm. The ARG would however, have to be turned over to the event co-ordinator by Thursday of this week to facilitate the erection of the stage, which Derrick believes, will take at least a “couple of days” to remove following the event.
The FA is hoping that a previous plea to Tourism Minister, football sponsor and lover, Asot Michael, would help to sway the minds of the organisers in considering an alternate venue.
The competition is slated to continue on Saturday when Grenades take on SAP at 5 pm and Pigotts Bullets take on Old Road at 7 pm.
On Sunday, Parham play Liberta at 3 pm, Glanvilles tackle Greenbay Hoppers at 5 pm and Tryum meet Empire at 7 pm.
More in today’s Daily Observer.