Robertson S. Henry. Sports and Cultural Contributor
APRIL, 2013; KINGSTOWN, SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES – This coming Sunday April 21, 2013 will see the revival of the Windward Islands Senior men football, with action will be taking place at the Victoria Park in Kingstown from 6:00 p.m. this coming Sunday and concludes on Thursday 25; two matches each day.
For many years, attempts were made to revive the Popam Cup as it was once known but for a number of reasons these efforts failed.
However through the resilience of a number of island football federation officials, the Windward Islands Football Association was formed with Trevor Heath as the General Secretary, and Venold Coombs as President.
Despite a number of administrative and financial hiccups, plans were finalized for the hosting of the 2013 Windward Islands Senior Men Football Tournament April 21 – 25, 2013.
With sponsorship coming from the National Lotteries Authority of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Digicel, Karib Cable, and Coreas Group O f Companies, the senior men’s teams from the four islands will do battle once more for sub-regional football supremacy.
Meanwhile Dominica after several weeks of preparation has selected five new comers to the island’s 18-man squad to represent Dominica.
Nilster George, Lex Mility, Noran Jno Hope, Romario Burgins, and goalkeeper Elijah Toulon, are the five new comers in the squad captained by striker, Curlson Benjamin.
Randy Poleon of Saint Lucia in action (photo by Robertson S Henry)
Also included in the Dominican national squad for the revived Windward Islands Senior Men Football Tournament are seasoned campaigners Collin Bernard, Glenson Prince, Delbert Dailey and Kurlson Benjamin.
Dominica’s full squad to the revived Windward Islands Senior Men’s Football Championship is: Kurlson Benjamin, Elijah Toulon, Glenson Prince, Elmond Derrick, Kelrick Walter, Delbert Dailey, Chad Bertrand, Egbert Matthew Walsh, Lex Mility, Malcolm Joseph, Calvin Christopher, Noran Jno Hope, Romario Burgins, Collin Bernard, Lester Langlais, Joselyn Prince, Eddie Thomas, and Nilster George.
Dominica begins its bid for the championship with a game against hosts Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Head Coach Kirt Hector is confident that his “relatively experienced” team has what it takes to perform well in the Windward football tournament.
The experienced, speedy and classy Sheldon Emmanuel Hs been named in the Saint Lucia squad to contest the April 21 – 25 2013 Windward Islands Senior Men’s Football Championship.
Also named in the squad is Randy Poleon who was Saint Lucia’s custodian at the 2007 CONCACAF Windward Islands Under-20 Football Tournament in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The full squad is Iran Cassius, Randy Poleon, Alton Robert, Erick Gabriel, Jamil Joseph, Magnam Valcin, Emmery Edward, Shanoi Shawn Evans, Troy Prospere, Sheldon Emmnauel, Pernal Williams, Rickson Augustin, Saklim Joseph, Melvin Aurelien, Eden Charles, Romiel Felix, and Everton Lambert.
At the time of going to press, no word yet on the national squads of Grenada and hosts Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as the organizers worked feverishly to finalize all preparations.
