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REJECTED! CONCACAF Disapproves Trelawny Stadium For U-17 Championship
Published: Thursday | February 10, 20110 Comments
Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau:
CONCACAF yesterday rejected the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, declaring the US$30-million facility as below the required standard to host games in the 12-team CONCACAF Under-17 Championship, which is slated to start in four days.
"We have serious concerns about this venue ... there is no grass and this is not what we expected," said Tim Howard, the general secretary of CONCACAF, following a tour of the facility with an inspection team yesterday.
"As we speak, only way we would reconsider is if we can't find a suitable alternative venue," Howard added.
As a consequence of the rejection of the Trelawny facility, the search is now on to find another venue as soon as possible.
Jarrett Park
Jarrett Park, which was initially rejected during CONCACAF's first inspection of venues back in September, is now high on the list.
"We will be going to Jarrett Park later this afternoon to see what is there," said Howard. "There is no way we are going to have grass growing at the Trelawny stadium in four days so we are basically ruling out that venue."
Jamaica Football Federation's general secretary Horace Reid, who was understandably em-barrassed by the situation, blamed the management of the stadium for the fiasco, arguing that they had repeatedly promised that the venue would be ready.
"Even after the trampling it took on the final night of the recent Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, I was promised that it would be ready," said Reid.
"This is embarrassing, disgraceful and unacceptable ... this is not what we were promised," he said.
Negative impact
Reid believes the rejection of the Trelawny facility and the last-minute attempt to find a replacement venue is bound to have a negative impact on Jamaica's reputation in CONCACAF.
"This is going to harm our reputation in the CONCACAF and might hurt our chances to stage future tournaments," said Reid. "I believe there is going to be serious repercussions."
Prior to the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, the Trelawny facility was lush green and, according to Howard, it was the local venue they had the least concern about in their inspection prior to the musical fiesta.
"Initially, we were very pleased about this stadium. In fact, it was the one we had the least concerns about," said Howard. "To come here and see it in this state today is just so disappointing."
The inspection team was slated to visit the Catherine Hall Stadium, the other main venue for the tournament, last night. Based on previous inspections, it was widely believe the venue would be accepted, making it available for Jamaica's opening game against Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday.
However, Howard made it clear that CONCACAF was not contemplating playing all the games at Catherine Hall as, according to him, "as a new facility it would not be able to stand up to such heavy use".
Published: Thursday | February 10, 20110 Comments
Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau:
CONCACAF yesterday rejected the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, declaring the US$30-million facility as below the required standard to host games in the 12-team CONCACAF Under-17 Championship, which is slated to start in four days.
"We have serious concerns about this venue ... there is no grass and this is not what we expected," said Tim Howard, the general secretary of CONCACAF, following a tour of the facility with an inspection team yesterday.
"As we speak, only way we would reconsider is if we can't find a suitable alternative venue," Howard added.
As a consequence of the rejection of the Trelawny facility, the search is now on to find another venue as soon as possible.
Jarrett Park
Jarrett Park, which was initially rejected during CONCACAF's first inspection of venues back in September, is now high on the list.
"We will be going to Jarrett Park later this afternoon to see what is there," said Howard. "There is no way we are going to have grass growing at the Trelawny stadium in four days so we are basically ruling out that venue."
Jamaica Football Federation's general secretary Horace Reid, who was understandably em-barrassed by the situation, blamed the management of the stadium for the fiasco, arguing that they had repeatedly promised that the venue would be ready.
"Even after the trampling it took on the final night of the recent Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, I was promised that it would be ready," said Reid.
"This is embarrassing, disgraceful and unacceptable ... this is not what we were promised," he said.
Negative impact
Reid believes the rejection of the Trelawny facility and the last-minute attempt to find a replacement venue is bound to have a negative impact on Jamaica's reputation in CONCACAF.
"This is going to harm our reputation in the CONCACAF and might hurt our chances to stage future tournaments," said Reid. "I believe there is going to be serious repercussions."
Prior to the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, the Trelawny facility was lush green and, according to Howard, it was the local venue they had the least concern about in their inspection prior to the musical fiesta.
"Initially, we were very pleased about this stadium. In fact, it was the one we had the least concerns about," said Howard. "To come here and see it in this state today is just so disappointing."
The inspection team was slated to visit the Catherine Hall Stadium, the other main venue for the tournament, last night. Based on previous inspections, it was widely believe the venue would be accepted, making it available for Jamaica's opening game against Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday.
However, Howard made it clear that CONCACAF was not contemplating playing all the games at Catherine Hall as, according to him, "as a new facility it would not be able to stand up to such heavy use".
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