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What does the fact that there are a lot of Jamaicans in Bahamas have to do with anything? This is not about satisfying fans it is about ensuring Bahamas their home field advantage. And now that the game is in Jamaica those Jamaicans won't see the game anyway. Load of rubbish if you ask me.
Home Advantage?
Jamaica to host both legs of WC Qualifier against The Bahamas
SEAN A WILLIAMS, Assistant Sports Editor
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Jamaica will host both legs of their round two CONCACAF World Cup qualifier against the Bahamas, it was revealed yesterday.
The Bahamas, ranked 165 in the world by FIFA, surrendered their right to home advantage as their main Thomas Robinson Stadium, located in the island's capital, Nassau, was said to have failed FIFA venue inspection criteria.
"The main venue where The Bahamas would have preferred to play Jamaica was not approved by FIFA, the secondary venue was approved, but does not have the seating capacity that they would have liked," said Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) boss, Captain Horace Burrell, yesterday.
In their first-round qualifying tie last month, The Bahamas hosted the British Virgin Islands in both legs of the elimination at the BFA National Centre for Football Development, but this FIFA-approved facility was considered inadequate to host a World Cup qualifying game against Jamaica.
"Because they realise that there are a lot of Jamaicans living in The Bahamas and not sufficient seats at the approved facility with artificial turf, the football officials there approached us to host because they would have been in Jamaica already, so doing that the cost wouldn't be so high for them, so it made financial sense to play both games here," Burrell said.
Jamaica will host the first game of the originally home-and-away tie on Sunday, June 15, at Kingston's National Stadium at 6:00 pm, with The Bahamas' 'home game' now slated for the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium on Wednesday, June 18, at 7:00 pm.
The proposal to host The Bahamas leg in the north west coast of Jamaica, notes Burrell, is aimed at "resuscitating football in western Jamaica".
"This administration is committed to bringing international football to that part of the island as in recent times not a lot has been happening for the game in the west," said the CFU senior vice-president.
For the game to be hosted at the Trelawny complex, FIFA inspectors must approve, and Burrell assured that a team will be here shortly to do their assessment.
No specific timetable has been given for the inspection, but Burrell expects that lights would be in place ahead of their arrival as he has already requested sports minister, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, to see to the implementation.
"We have already commenced talk with the government to install lights at the facility, we are hoping that these lights will be installed in time for the game," he said.
The Reggae Boyz, ranked 103, will not be taking their perceived home advantage for granted. "There are no easy games in World Cup football so we are taking both these games seriously," said Burrell.
Jamaica to host both legs of WC Qualifier against The Bahamas
SEAN A WILLIAMS, Assistant Sports Editor
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Jamaica will host both legs of their round two CONCACAF World Cup qualifier against the Bahamas, it was revealed yesterday.
The Bahamas, ranked 165 in the world by FIFA, surrendered their right to home advantage as their main Thomas Robinson Stadium, located in the island's capital, Nassau, was said to have failed FIFA venue inspection criteria.
"The main venue where The Bahamas would have preferred to play Jamaica was not approved by FIFA, the secondary venue was approved, but does not have the seating capacity that they would have liked," said Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) boss, Captain Horace Burrell, yesterday.
In their first-round qualifying tie last month, The Bahamas hosted the British Virgin Islands in both legs of the elimination at the BFA National Centre for Football Development, but this FIFA-approved facility was considered inadequate to host a World Cup qualifying game against Jamaica.
"Because they realise that there are a lot of Jamaicans living in The Bahamas and not sufficient seats at the approved facility with artificial turf, the football officials there approached us to host because they would have been in Jamaica already, so doing that the cost wouldn't be so high for them, so it made financial sense to play both games here," Burrell said.
Jamaica will host the first game of the originally home-and-away tie on Sunday, June 15, at Kingston's National Stadium at 6:00 pm, with The Bahamas' 'home game' now slated for the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium on Wednesday, June 18, at 7:00 pm.
The proposal to host The Bahamas leg in the north west coast of Jamaica, notes Burrell, is aimed at "resuscitating football in western Jamaica".
"This administration is committed to bringing international football to that part of the island as in recent times not a lot has been happening for the game in the west," said the CFU senior vice-president.
For the game to be hosted at the Trelawny complex, FIFA inspectors must approve, and Burrell assured that a team will be here shortly to do their assessment.
No specific timetable has been given for the inspection, but Burrell expects that lights would be in place ahead of their arrival as he has already requested sports minister, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, to see to the implementation.
"We have already commenced talk with the government to install lights at the facility, we are hoping that these lights will be installed in time for the game," he said.
The Reggae Boyz, ranked 103, will not be taking their perceived home advantage for granted. "There are no easy games in World Cup football so we are taking both these games seriously," said Burrell.
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