The Tribune

WHILE a match in Nassau featuring Jamaica’s national football squad and England’s Tottenham Hotspur will be carried out as a part of the Bahamas’ Independence celebrations, it will also be in celebration of the creation of the Caribbean Community, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said.

Minister Wilchcombe pointed out that 2013 marks both the 40th anniversary of Bahamian Independence and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the treaty of Chaguaramas, which created CARICOM.

The match will take place May 23 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

Meanwhile, both Jamaica’s and Tottenham’s team representatives were looking forward to what they believed would be a sold-out match.

“It’s going to be a humdinger,” said Horace Burrell, president of the Jamaica Football Federation.

Mr Burrell said his organisation has received a flurry of inquiries about the match since it was announced. Calls have come from North America and the Caribbean. Due to the interest express in the match, he advised fans to purchase their tickets right away.

“Normally, we are a last minute people in the Caribbean, but I would certainly like to take this opportunity to respectfully suggest that the local fans purchase their tickets pretty early because it is really going to be a sold out crowd,” Mr Burrell said.

Darren Eales, director of football administration for the Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur, pointed out that his club is experiencing great success in the United Kingdom and is looking forward to a strong finish in the Premier League. The team presently holds the third place spot in the league.

“We are also looking forward to working with rhe Bahamas Ministry of Tourism to help promote the country as a major hub for Sports Tourism,” he said.

Mr Eales said the sporting facilities in the Bahamas make it an ideal destination for clubs and national associations.