A four-year FIFA investment of about EC$67 million could help Saint Lucia improve its football facilities and give more young players a chance to compete at higher levels, Semi Pro CEO Alvin Malykhan said as he welcomed the announcement by FIFA’s president.
The US$25 million commitment is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027, according to a statement from Semi Pro. The funding will support football infrastructure and the wider development of the sport. Malykhan described the investment as a “game-changer,” pointing to grassroots development and talent identification as areas where it could make a difference.
“Saint Lucia is blessed with an abundance of young football talent. However, talent alone is not enough,” Malykhan said. “We must create the right environment, provide the necessary facilities and establish sustainable development pathways that will allow our young players to realise their full potential and compete at higher levels.”
Malykhan attended a Thursday evening reception held in honour of FIFA’s president and his delegation during their visit to Saint Lucia. Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, members of Cabinet and the Acting Governor General were also in attendance.
Semi Pro said the FIFA commitment would complement the Saint Lucia Government’s investment in the league, which it described as the first of its kind in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.
Malykhan thanked FIFA and its president for their support of football development in Saint Lucia and across the Caribbean. He also urged those involved in Saint Lucian football to work together and ensure the investment produces results that can be measured.
“This is an opportunity that must not be squandered,” he said. “It is now incumbent upon all stakeholders to work together to ensure that this investment translates into tangible progress for our football and creates lasting opportunities for generations to come.”
