Howard McIntosh, Head of One CONCACAF and Caribbean Projects, has commended the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for its ongoing efforts in converting the National Training Centre in Providence into a modern international playing facility.
This was disclosed in an official release from the GFF. According to the correspondence, McIntosh, during a visit to the venue with GFF President Wayne Forde on Monday, said, “It’s great to come here and see more progress, and I’m happy to know that the lights will be up quite soon. I see renovation work taking place with the artificial pitch, and again, it’s just the type of steady progress that has been happening and continues to happen with President Forde and his administration and with Guyana football.”
“Every single time I come to Guyana, I’m so impressed with the progress in terms of infrastructure,” McIntosh added.
Presently, United States-based enterprise Musco Sports Lighting and local subcontractor Cummings Electrical are installing the FIFA-approved lighting apparatus at the facility. The National Training Centre was formally inaugurated in 2019 with the installation of artificial turf and the construction of the main edifice.
“The FIFA Forward lighting project, which was approved in May, encompasses the production, transportation, installation, and testing of the lighting system. These lights, scheduled for commissioning in December, will enhance the overall football experience for both players and fans at Guyana’s premier football venue. Furthermore, with the support of Concacaf, the GFF will soon initiate the construction of seating on the western and southern sides of the field, as well as the conversion of designated rooms into dressing rooms”, the release stated.
The GFF recently unveiled the final blueprint for the FIFA Forward facility, which will feature an international football pitch, modern office spaces, accommodation, a state-of-the-art media centre, and seating. The design was conceptualised by the architectural firm SRKN and will be constructed over a three-year period.
Meanwhile, GFF President Wayne Forde said, “What is most encouraging is that there is ongoing work. I have every reason to believe that we’re going to meet the established targets. I know for sure that season six of the KFC Elite League will be played here under high-quality floodlights, and I believe the visibility the players will experience on the FIFA+ platform will have a huge impact in terms of opening up opportunities for them.”
