The Windward Islands Football Federation has decided that the revived Windward Islands Football Tournament will proceed as planned with the absence of the Dominica National Football Team.
The Dominica team pulled out of the the tournament after two members of the team, Kurt Hector and Norran Jno Hope, died and another, Joselyn Prince, was seriously injured in a vehicular accident on Friday.
After news of the accident emerged, the four Windward Islands Football Associations, currently attending the CFU and CONCACAF Congress in Panama, convened an emergency meeting to decide the status of the tournament.
In a subsequent statement, the federation said the tournament will continue as planned.
However, it mandated that all officials and participating teams wear black arm bands and a minute of silence observed before the commencement of every game as a sign of respect to the fallen footballers and their injured comrade.
“The prayers of the Executive, the membership of the Windward Islands Football Federation and the Footballing Caribbean public goes out to the Dominica Football Federation and the Dominica Footballing Public,” the federation said in a statement.
The last Windward Islands Football Tournament was played in Grenada in March 2001. Once known as the Popam Cup, several attempts have been made over the years to have it revived. Through the resilience of a number of island football federation officials, the Windward Islands Football Association was formed.
After several administrative and financial hiccups, plans were finalized for the hosting of the 2013 Windward Islands Senior Men Football Tournament on April 21 – 25, 2013.
With the absence of the Dominican team the schedule of matches has been rearranged as follows:
Sunday April 21st 2013: St. Vincent versus St. Lucia
Tuesday April 23rd 2013: Grenada versus St. Lucia
Thursday April 25th 2013: St. Vincent versus Grenada
concern let me tell u for a fact NO other country was in svg yet wen dat happened so stop talking bull
ppl need to hv a better heart two ppl dead going to represent our country and u sayin d team should hv gone out der? wat a shame on us.i agree with sebo wifa should called off dat tournament. to make it worse our dfa pre and gen sec ws in panama with d other fa members and still agree for it to continue wat a shame on glen don’t care about their own ppl. shame on DFA
hey as a footballer frm loosha who has friends n family in vincy playin the tournament n the fact my mom is from DA, the best ting would be to honour those footballers by playin the tournament n dedicating the tournament to them. Even my lushan brethren were sad b 4 they left the island. I hope those guys are burried by the DFA and the state. RESPECT TO THEM.
I believe the Dominica team should go and win for the fallen. These men have gone because the good Lord has called them home. As a Christian country i would believe dominicans know there soul is in
a better place. By not going we have given death the power over us. We all must go someday an life has to go on. It is the only true destiny we must face. (I am saddened but being realistic)
In China landslides have killed more than twice the population of Dominica at once. Lets hope we are all ready to meet the maker
in first place with that kind of weather, they should never make these people travel.anything could happen especially knowing dominica i
always has landslides and floods.
It is sad what occurred to the Dominican team. My heartfelt sympathy to you on the loss of two of your team members and the injury of the other.
In reality, the rest could not play under the circumstances.
The Windward Island Football Association probably could not postpone the game since it was already pre-planned. Consider too the other players and others who would be traveling to the game. If they had canceled it would have been at a financial loss. Such is life. Let us not blame them.
They will all be wearing black bands to signify their sympathy. It is my feeling that it will also go beyond to others who will hear of the accident, deaths and injuries.
There are many more people who will sympathize with the DA team, the family of those who passed on, the one who was injured and Dominican nationals than we could ever fathom. I am certain that prior to the start of the game, the incident, etc., will be announced.
Life and plans must go on. Therefore do not blame the WIFA.
I am just sorry that the DA team will not be participating due to this sad occurrence. It is appropriate and expected that they canceled out. God bless them and console them as they mourn the loss of their two team members and are saddened at the injury of their other team member!
Take heart! God is with you. There are some things which are beyond our understanding. One day, in God’s time, it will be revealed to us. God’s love and peace of heart and mind!
The Dominica Amateur Basketball Association (DABA) has taken a decision to postpone the games scheduled for tonight to a later date. Possibly next Thursday, says the DABA.
The DABA says this decision is based on the uncertain weather conditions, and the fact that teams have to travel from out of town.
The Association advises teams to “keep in touch for the rescheduled date.”
SEBO THATS FOR YOU
when allu have woman problem try to solve it than to use DNO to talk foolishness its a pity benjamin busy helping the nation…its like you following me where ever I go.
Try to make sense please there is such a thing as Adult Education Classes…we ALL need help at all times seek it when its available and now is the time
Your woman understands and you ex to….buy a rain coat
DABA postpone Basketball because of inclement weather…….
did you have access to the entire press release ? Whats there is only the edited version geeeeeez
R.I.P.
no respect for Dominica
after those guys lost their lives
what have we come to in this world
I am horrified the loss of lives mean nothing to
us ?
We put money before the sanctity of human lives
shame on the organizers.
I applaud the DABA a basketball entity for postponing their schedules Matches and also the DCA a Cricket entity yet our WIFA goes ahead with CFU/CONCACAF with this Popham Tournament as if we in Dominica means nothing.
I did not know the footballer and coa h but I have a hunch they would have wanred it to go on. That s based on the personilities portrayed by their friends and colleagues
the world doesn’t stop because one man is hurting my dear… that is life… plus, the wearing of the black arm bands says alot.. so don’t be mad. A lot might be at stake here
SEBO is so right
Its more than one man dats hurting there
a whole team , an entire country; the whole region is shocked at this sad news; yet still WIFA continues with that Football Tournament. Don’t you know how the players and their families and victims relations and loved ones feeling. The cricketers in Barbados from the Windwards have more heart.
When are these people in WIFA going to show respect for us in Da ?
@southeast… I dont give a rat’s quarterly endings about any1; however i do take death very seriously.
Don’t just agree to all contracts laid bare before you. FOOL~!
1st off, the world don’t give 2 shts about D/ca; so get that through your head.
2nd, stop using ppls deaths to btch against other countries. It’s pathetic.
Lastly, R.I.P. May the Father take in your souls into Heaven.
my sentiments exatly..
i second that.d same thing i say there.no respect for dominica at all
SEbo although I feel your pain as a Dominican too , I am sure if we could ask Kurt and Norran ..what should we do…”they would say let the games begin”. I believe that the guys have worked hard in preparation of the tournament and it would be a shame to cancel…I am sure that Kur and Norran will be their in spirit looking and and cheering…It is sad that Dominica has decided not to play…understandably…..But I think it is an honor that the rest of the teams will e playing and honoring their fallen comrades in so doing.
ANONYMOUS
You need your head examined…the guys cannot even sleep or eat…so many of them are undergoing counseling. The last thing that would be on their minds is playing football. There is not enough healing time. Their colleagues died and one is fighting for his life. Please have a heart ANONYMOUS …am not surprised that you call yourself by such a stupid name.
So you wanted a grieving team to play a tournament hours after such a devastating incident. And make us the laughing stock of the Sporting World !
I know about these things!
If a member of your family dies, and you were due to travel the next day on business, would you still travel or cancel.
Did you consider the others teams that may have already traveled to St. Vincent, when they cancelled they would be expected to pay all expenses for arrangement already made. Please let us not be selfish and consider all the other countries that are to participate and the other compelling reason for continuing the tournament. At least the federation has put measures in place for them to be recognized before all games. May there souls rest in peace
You echoed my sentiments perfectly, so I don’t need to make the same comment. It will be ok SEBO.
you are just INSENSITIVE as usual
you make no sense at all
@SEBO… You have to be insensitive to make the decision of/for the masses. #Concern makes plenty of sense.
Think of all the money spent in advertising, travel, insurances, assurances…etc.
Think of the dissapointed players who dedicated their whole life to these moments.
No, you rather sit about and mope on the lives of 2 ppls lost, because our “Planning” department too stupid and lazy to put a bridge there.
DON’T take out your angers on others, ye molly coddle.
If you were on any of the other teams or countries, would you not have done the same?