Groundbreaking for New Bleachers at the F.F.B. Stadium

The F.F.B. stadium in Belmopan is getting a major facelift. The first phase of a construction project is set to begin shortly. Valued at two point four million dollars, today, the General Secretary of the Football Federation of Belize, Earl Jones and Steven Coleman of Coleman Construction signed off on the contract, which will see concrete bleachers installed at the facility. The funding is being provided by FIFA Forward Development Programme. News Five’s Duane Moody was at today’s ground breaking ceremony and files this report.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Ground was broken today at the F.F.B. Stadium in Belmopan as a symbolic gesture for work to commence on the construction of concrete bleachers at the facility. The investment will see the stadium become FIFA-certified and will take into consideration persons with diverse abilities.  Following a tendering process, Coleman Constructions Limited won that bid. The work begins with phase one.

Sergio Chuc

Sergio Chuc, President, F.F.B.

“Mister Steven Coleman from Coleman Construction, who won the bid to construction phase one of the bleachers project. Why we say phase one is because this project will take several years to complete. We will do the first phase which is the bleachers on the western and eastern side. But after that, we have other phases coming which will entail VIP facilities, which will entail also a shed. So that will definitely take some years. And what I want to remark is that in Belize we need to think long-term. Last year we completed the pitch behind us. The federation invested a million Belize dollars in this world-class pitch. This is one of the best there is—not only in Belize or Central America, but it is one of the best around the world. This is what FIFA refers to as the FIFA-pro pitch and when we complete the first phase of the bleachers, it will entail access for differently abled people. We are talking about everybody will have comfortable way or seating to get there; people with wheelchairs will be able to come and enjoy the facility.”

According to Ray Davis, the process started from December 2017 and the funding was provided through the FIFA Forward Development Programme.

Ray Davis

Ray Davis, FIFA Forward Development Manager

“We want facilities that are safe, functional, attractive, environmentally friendly, sustainably managed and energy efficient, and this project that we have today fulfils all of those aims that we set for ourselves. We started this journey in December 2017 and that’s when we applied for the funds that were already available to the football federation that had not been accessed before.”

Minister of Sports, Patrick Faber was also present at today’s groundbreaking ceremony. He spoke to the importance of the investment in the sporting facility, and the economic benefits to be reaped during the COVID-19 crisis.

Patrick Faber

Patrick Faber, Minister of Sports

“I congratulate the F.F.B.; we thank FIFA Forward for their support for the F.F.B. and this initiative. As has been mentioned here today, it is an investment not only in the sporting discipline of football, but also in our economy. When there is construction, there is a lot of spending and employment happening and for us that is a step in a positive direction, especially in this time of crisis in our country.”

Duane Moody for News Five.