St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association Press Release
Coming of their last nil-nil friendly international with Nicaragua, the St. Kitts and Nevis senior men’s National Football Team (The Sugar Boyz) has made another climb in the FIFA world rankings to secure a #77 spot.
Released early Thursday, the FIFA Rankings showed St. Kitts and Nevis moved up four positions, with teams such as Libya, Bolivia Bulgaria and Benin in the immediate slots ahead of Team St. Kitts-Nevis, while immediately behind are teams such as China (PR), Guatemala and Jamaica.
For the CONCACAF region, SKN is in #5 position, trailing teams from Trinidad & Tobago, Panama, USA, Costa Rico and table-topper Mexico. In the Caribbean Football Union zone, St. Kitts is in #2 position behind Trinidad and Tobago.
The outstanding performance of the national senior men’s football team has been attributed to a combination of factors. Included are a team that is highly motivated skilled, dedicated and disciplined; a team that is well coached and physically fit, and just as important, a Football Associations that is dedicated in facilitating international exposure for players and team, in getting them ready for competition.
SKNFA has received congratulations and commendations from regional sporting entities, from football supporters and the SKN Ministry of Sports.
General Secretary Stanley Jacobs of the SKNFA said the improved ranking was testimony of the hard work that is going into the development of St. Kitts-Nevis football.
Jacobs said, “Where we are at today is no accident, but it has been a journey of learning, adapting, planning, structuring, putting the right developmental programs in place, building a better financial base, developing partnerships with corporate St. Kitts and Nevis, paying attention to the grassroots development of the sport, developmental training for coaches, referees, and training on the administrative side of football. Even the spectators have played their part. The revenue from their support is ploughed into the development of football.”
According to Jacobs, the SKNFA is highly dedicated to ensuring that football in the federation excels and is of benefit for the youth of the country, and the nation as a whole. He noted the tremendous costs involved and the imperative to have the support of the corporate community for the various levels of the sport.
Working with FIFA and the regional bodies in football, Jacobs said the Football Association is determined to make football in the federation one of the best run, administratively and technically, in the region.
Jacobs also commended the volunteers, without whom, he said, football cannot grow and develop in the federation.