TORTOLA—Almost two months after clubs rejected a proposed constitution and FIFA officials stepped in and set up a select committee to re-examine the document, the BVI Football Association will meet tonight to ratify a new constitution, paving the way for election of a new executive body next month.

Tonight’s meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the BVIFA headquarters in the Botanic Station. On Monday, the association received nomination of officers for elections which had been scheduled for Mar 5. However, general secretary Kenrick Grant said FIFA has directed the association to add an agenda item to tonight’s Extra Ordinary General Meeting, to pass a special resolution from the members to extend the election date from Mar 5 to Mar 12. 

This, Grant noted, is to allow more time for the nominated candidates in the upcoming general elections to make their depositions and for the members to understand the contents of the constitution. Grant said FIFA is also concerned that should tonight’s meeting ratify the redrafted constitution, the annual general meeting Mar 5, would not allow the full 15 days notice allotted by the new constitution.

While no information on Monday’s nominations have been made public, the upcoming elections are expected to be the hottest ever contested. The sport has been plagued with numerous challenges and administrative deficiencies.  Over the last eight years, the association has received $2 million in FIFA grants, but has failed to developed BVI men and women’s teams at all levels.

Since 1999, three technical directors have been canned and the youth development program had to be restarted several times. Charlie Cookie the first technical director who was hired in 1999 and canned about 18 months later, led the Turks and Caicos Islands to their first FIFA World Cup preliminary victory, a 2-1 triumph over St. Lucia earlier this month.  

The BVI team is to meet the Bahamas on Mar 26 and 30 in Nassau, in their home and away series. The team has not participated in any warm up matches for the upcoming competition.