A knockout football surfeit is coming, with the Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League (SPFL) building to a long-awaited climax and the 2024 Blackheart Championship underway in the coming weeks.
Following upcoming Concacaf Nations League engagements at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground on October 11 and 14, Saint Lucian fans will be treated to 12 days of football action.
Those announcements came on Thursday morning at a joint press conference between the Saint Lucia Football Association, SPFL, and Blackheart.
SPFL playoffs had been scheduled for late September, but problems with the venue led to a postponement.
CEO Francis Daniel on Thursday declared that the two-tier inter-district tournament will resume on October 19, 20, 23, and 26, when the title games will be played at a venue yet to be determined.
David ‘Shakes’ Christopher, CEO of Blackheart Productions, revealed that the 2024 competition will kick off in Soufrière on October 25 and 27, the Jounen Kwéyòl weekend.
Eight matchdays will be played, with five games at the newly refurbished Gros Islet Stadium.
The finals are scheduled for November 16.
“Other than national football, that is where Saint Lucia is playing Nations League, for instance, we must work together to deliver the best possible product on the field for our players and for our fans,” declared Daniel.
“We as a collective will be providing Saint Lucians with football entertainment on an annual basis. And we will work towards a model where the benefits will go to the players, the district leagues, and the football-loving public in Saint Lucia.”
For his part, Christopher also preached unity, stating that at the end of the day, football “must be the winner.”
The 20th edition of the nation’s leading knockout competition, he said, will be bringing a high level of excitement to all of Saint Lucia.
Also speaking at Thursday morning’s press conference was Evastus Augustin, SLFA Head of Competitions, who explained that the governing body has been working closely with all concerned to ensure that the players, leagues, and fans are happy with the outcomes.
PHOTO: Castries vs Gros Islet in SPFL action .
