By Andrew Coakley
FN Sports Editor
With the new season of Bahamas Youth Football just kicking off this weekend, already they find themselves in a dilemma which they may not have anticipated.
Bahamas Youth Football is in the process of having to find a new field on which to play out the rest of the season.
Executives of BYF are scrambling around looking for some place to play the remainder of the season.
On Friday, as game one of the season was set to kick-off, there were concerns when it was noticed that the goal posts were not in place and the field at the GB Sports Complex had not been marked out.
In fact, there was the thought that the season would not have gotten under way on Friday.
However, they did manage to pull off the first game of the season at the Complex.
"But we were told that we would be able to play on Friday and Saturday, but after that we would have to find somewhere else to play," said Stanford Duhaney, a coach and executive of BYF.
BYF Executives were told that the Complex was going to be shut down so that work on the resurfacing of the track could begin.
The resurfacing of the track is expected to take a few months.
That leaves BYF out in the cold and with nowhere to play.
"We understand that the Minister had promised a long time ago that the track would be resurfaced, and we have no problem with that, except if we had been told in advance when they would begin that, then we would have already known that our second season would have had to been held somewhere else," added Duhaney.
"But here it is, the season has begun and now we have to try and find some place to play.
"Honestly, we don't know what we are going to do."
There may be a number of fields around on which football could be played, however, there are some logistical issues that must be faced. First, and foremost, is the lighting situation. Without proper lighting it will be impossible to hold night games.
Secondly, there is the issue of having bleachers for fans to be able to properly see the games.
There is also the issue of having proper bathroom facilities available for fans and players.
Executives of BYF have to consider all of these issues while looking for a place to play.
"It's like being kicked out of your apartment without proper notice and then you find yourself living in the streets," said one coach, when he heard the news.
As to why they were not properly informed about the plans by the Ministry of Sports on the timing of the resurfacing of the track, BYF executives said they don't have the answer to that question.
But says it's water under the bridge now.
Their main objective now is to continue the season with high hopes.
"This program is about keeping over 300 young men off the streets and out of trouble as much as is possible.
"This program even goes beyond just football, this is about youth development. We've seen young men make positive changes once they became a part of this program.
"So, this is not about playing around, we are helping kids and that's our goal."
Duhaney says that they are presently meeting with "the powers that be" to try and have this matter resolved as quickly as possibl.
Without a place to play, BYF finds itself in a predicament as to whether or not they will continue their second season.
With so much at stake during this season, Commis-sioner LaLisa Anthony says quitting or cancelling the season is not an option.
"These kids want to play ball and many of them have opportunities before them for American football than they've ever had before, so we need them to play," said Anthony.
"This program will continue to grow and remain strong, in spite of any minor setbacks."
Those opportunities include a chance to be a part of the first ever national Bahamian team to play in a Junior World Football championship and opportunities for college scholarships.
BYF executives said that they have faith in the Minister of Sports and is confident that together they can come to an amicable solution to the short setback to ensure that the second season of BYF is not interrupted.
