By Neto Baptiste
The Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) is eyeing a return to the historic Antigua Recreation Grounds (ARG) for the 2024/25 domestic football season.
This was confirmed by one member of the body’s marketing and PR team, Neil Cochrane, who said some executive members have been in dialogue with the Ministry of Sports regarding use of the popular venue.
“Discussions have been held with the Minister of Sports [Hon Daryll Matthew] and they haven’t gone far but certainly, from the perspective of the acting president [Gwen Salmon] and the executive, I think there is an appetite to get back to the ARG to host, if not all of the games then some of the games,” he said.
The football association previously held a lease for the ARG but had not used the venue since 2020 after they were forced to abandon the 2019/20 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, the association has utilized it’s Technical & Training Centre located on the Sir Sydney Walling Highway.
Cochrane revealed that the domestic season is slated to kick off late September but that the date is not set in stone.
“The date that’s projected is the 21st of September but as I am aware there are some issues with club licenses that still have to be dealt with in terms of a few in-house issues so once everything flows then they are looking at the 21st of September or there about,” he said.
Three newcomers, Potters Tigers, Alzarri Joseph 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, Sandals/Inet 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.
