ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC):

Officials and players in this weekend's revived Windward Islands Football Championship will wear black armbands as a mark of respect to Dominica's national coach Kurt Hector and player Norman Jno Hope who died in an accident southeast of Roseau.

The Windward Island Football Federation says that a minute of silence will be observed before the start of every game during the tournament in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The decision to continue with the tournament, in the absence of the Dominican footballers who have since pulled out, was taken following an emergency meeting of the football association presidents from the four Windward Islands who are currently in Panama attending the CFU and Concacaf congress.

"The tournament will proceed as planned with the absence of Dominica football team. All officials, all participating teams will wear a black armband and will observe a minute of silence before the commencement of every game during the tournament," said a brief statement released yesterday.

Prayers

"The prayers of the executive, the membership and the footballing public go out to the Dominica Football Federation and the Dominica footballing public."

Hector and Jno Hope were killed when their vehicle fell into a large sinkhole following heavy rains over the past few days.

The Dominica Football Association said a third player, Joslin Prince, is undergoing surgery at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

The players were on their way to the airport to join with other members of the national team travelling to St Vincent and the Grenadines for the event.