The Eastern Football Association of Trinidad and Tobago is inviting football stakeholders, fans and well-wishers to contribute to a relief drive for St Vincent and the Grenadines to help the Caribbean nation recover after the eruption of La Soufrière volcano.
Persons who wish to contribute can drop off water, rice, canned foods, blankets, pampers, toiletries or masks in care of the EFATT at the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) headquarters in Couva or at the Super Quality Grocery in Macoya or Chaguanas.
The deadline for donations is 12pm on Tuesday 20 April and the relevant contact numbers are 335-3849 or 235-5057.
EFATT president Kieron Edwards said the impetus to support came after a chat with St Vincent and the Grenadines Men’s National Senior Team assistant coach Shandel Samuel, who was a former San Juan Jabloteh and Malabar FC attacker.
“One of the assistant coaches from the St Vincent national team played for an East Zone club some time aback, and that is Shandel Samuel,” Edwards told Wired868. “[…] He reached out to me and I had some discussions with [St Vincent and the Grenadines football president Carl] Dixon. And based on that we are now reaching out to the football fraternity to see what assistance we can give.”
St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago have long shared a football relationship. Trinidad and Tobago’s first World Cup coach Bertille St Clair led ‘Vincey Heat’ in their 1998 World Cup qualifying campaign while Kendall Velox, Cornelius Stewart also played in the TT Pro League.
Edwards suggested that it is time for the football community to become more active in societal matters.
“There are also plenty issues that happen right here in Trinidad and the football fraternity is quiet,” said Edwards. “So I want this to be the first of many in terms of the football fraternity taking a stand on issues.”