The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FIFA, Beach Soccer Worldwide and Bahamas Football Association executives conducted a site visit this week to evaluate the Bahamas’ progress toward major beach soccer events.

The construction of the $2.5 million facility, built on the site of the original complex at Malcolm Park West, will be capable of hosting over 3,000 patrons and will be equipped with a number of modern amenities.

According to BFA President Anton Sealey, construction on the stadium is on schedule headed into the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships in February and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in late April.

“This was the second in a series of collaborative meetings with FIFA and the Beach Soccer Worldwide team. We discussed the state of the readiness for the event we will be hosting. We kicked off the first meeting earlier this year and they have returned to get an update of where we are and how they can assist us in where we are in our level of preparation,” Sealey said.

“We’re comfortable with where we are. I would have liked to have been further along because the CONCACAF qualifiers is upon us and I don’t really like to go down to the wire, but they are comfortable as are we with where we are right now, but of course you can always be further along.

“We would like to move a lot quicker. Of course we are entering the holiday season and we know what that means in terms of productivity in this country. So on that score I’m a little nervous but nonetheless I’m still optimistic that we will be ready for CONCACAF and certainly for FIFA when they arrive in April.”

This is going to be massive exposure to the country. Each match will be broadcast live across 211 countries. It will give us opportunities, certainly from a tourism standpoint it will give our Ministry of Tourism do not on their own meet currently. It’s exposure that if you had to pay for, it would cost a heck of a lot more than it costs this event to put on.”

Joan Cusco of Beach Soccer World Wide and the Tournament Director echoed Sealey’s sentiments on the timetable of construction.

“We have been here many times to keep on track. We are observing all the improvements and now we are focused on the stadium, which is growing in the right way. We know the material has arrived scheduled as planned so we are optimistic that the stadium will be ready by the end of January,” he said.

Cusco called both events, but the FIFA BSWC in particular, an opportunity for Bahamian exposure and to leave a legacy of the sport in the country.

“Millions of people will be watching the Bahamas so we hope it will be a great promotion for the country. The teams who qualified in Europe they are already planning for their groups of fans. I’m optimistic because the Bahamas is a name that rings a bell and everyone wants to attend because the Bahamas is very attractive,” he said, “One of the most important things is building the sport itself. We have a big commitment from the BFA and the community. Our expectation is what legacy we will league in this community. What we do with different neighborhoods. So we will work hard on the BFA and the government on how we will create a legacy. One of the parts of this legacy will be the stadium that will be built and will stay in this community forever.”

In an event expected to revolutionise the sport in the country, 16 teams from around the world will be taking part in the FIFA BSWC Bahamas 2017, hosted April 27 to May 7.

It is expected to be one of the largest draws sports tourism has ever enjoyed. Participation is being compared to the IAAF World Relays and the Battle 4 Atlantis, events that pack hotels, flood restaurants, fill taxis, drive shopping and attract an active lifestyle tourist who wants the best of The Bahamas.

According to officials, 16 countries will qualify to field full teams for matches that take place over an extended 10-day period with each team bringing a complement of 25 persons or more. Because of the length of the competition, economic benefits are being touted as in the multi-millions of dollars.

Jaime Yarza, Head of FIFA Events, said he came away from the site visit and meetings pleased with the progress made thus far.

“We are in good shape with the stadium. I think we will be perfectly prepared for CONCACAF and it ensures that we will be ready for the World Cup. There have been some setbacks with the Hurricane but the BFA is building a very good team so I am convinced if they keep working hard like they have been we will have a very successful World Cup in the Bahamas,” he said.

Yarza has the responsibility or coordinationg many of FIFAs events including the BSWC, Fustal World Cup, Olympics, Youth Olympics, and U17 and U20 World Cups.

“Having it on an island makes for a very special world cup. What I am hoping is that the community gets behind the EC and gets involved. Not only as spectators, but the people volunteering and joining other people from around the world. I think this is what really makes a difference for the people when organizing a World Cup,” he said, “In Tahiti they had a big crisis when we came to organize the World Cup. They had unemployment rates of up to 30 percent and the whole community just got involved with the tournament. I think it changed more than one month it changed the life of the people and the island. It was a nice experience for us and the players and it changed the face of football in the country.”