By Robert Balajadia
Daylight, camera, action.
The 2017 IIAAG Football season will see an influx of day games with two prominent football fields unable to host night games. Both the GW and JFK football fields has had issues with falling light fixtures which have made for an unsafe environment.
News broke today that the dangerous fixtures at JFK have been removed making their field available, at least, for day games. For the GW field, it’s highly unlikely any football will be played there this season.
GW Athletic Director Marty Boudreau had stated that GDOE has contracted to remove the hazardous fixtures, though it won’t be done until November, which is commonly the end of the football season. This issue removes GW’s contention for hosting even day games, which was shared as the home field for both GW and FD.
The issue at GW arose in June, when a fixture collapsed causing the fields immediate shutdown of public activity.
The UOG field is the tentative venue for bothFD and GW’s day games, though nothing has been finalized. For night games, only the Guam High field, Hal’s Angels field and Okkodo field are currently available.
No official schedule has been released and there is no current timetable on what times of day the games will be played.
“We’re going to be doing everything we can within our ability to make it most enjoyable for the fans and players,” said IIAAG President Chris Shepherd on the matter.
One issue that would also need resolving would be the availability of football officials.
GNYFF Vice President Allen Blend, as well as head coach of the JFK Islanders spoke with MSOA’s John Benavente, stating that MSOA has already been contracted and locked in all season long for the GNYFF, who have always hosted their games on Saturday and Sunday, with six games each day officiated by the MSOA.
The schedule will have to fit MSOA availability if the proposed schedule conflicts with their current GNYFF commitments.
GSPN will release the 2017 football schedule once finalized.
