Prime Minister Gaston Browne says he is meeting FIFA President Gianni Infantino to seek support for a football stadium in Antigua and Barbuda, along with other facilities and programmes to develop young players.

Browne announced the meeting Saturday on Pointe FM’s Browne and Browne Show. He said the president and general secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association would join him in the talks.

The government and football association have been lobbying FIFA for a stadium and additional assistance, Browne said. He identified two priorities beyond construction: improving the country’s football infrastructure and strengthening the skills of young players.

“We want to make sure that we use sports as an export product going forward,” Browne said. He said a closer partnership with FIFA could provide better facilities for young people while helping Antigua and Barbuda develop its potential in the sport.

Browne did not say where a stadium would be built, how much it might cost or what financial contribution Antigua and Barbuda would seek from FIFA. He gave no construction timetable. The meeting had not taken place when he made the announcement, and he did not report a commitment from Infantino.

The prime minister said he had to leave the radio programme early for the meeting. It was one of two sports developments he raised during Saturday’s broadcast. After congratulating the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons on their Caribbean Premier League championship, Browne said the country had also submitted a bid to host next year’s CPL final.

He gave no details of that bid. The proposed football stadium and the bid to stage the cricket final are separate initiatives.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda Seeks FIFA Support for Football Stadium.