PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad - Caribbean Football Union president Jack Warner called for the reinstatement of Antigua and Barbuda and sought more participation by teams in the region's tournaments, telling delegates at the CFU Congress that the federations must improve their coaching.

At annual conference in Trinidad this past weekend, Warner said he will travel to Antigua next month to meet with the federation's executives in an attempt to resolve the country's suspension. Antigua and Barbuda were suspended in 2007 for failure to obey the directives of the CFU executive committee.

Warner also said the CFU will work to streamline costs to make it possible for more teams to play in regional competitions, but also challenged the national associations.

"We would have failed in our quest to improve the game in the region if we do not improve our coaches," Warner said. "I keep speaking of a brighter future, but the future has a way of arriving unannounced . The future is now. Let us start now, let us implement a number of coaching courses. But despite this we must reform the coaching program in the region if we have to survive."

The delegates asked Warner to approach FIFA to expand its "Win in CONCACAF with CONCACAF" program, a $10 million initiative designed to enhance the infrastructure of 11 fledgling leagues in the Caribbean and Central America.

The CFU also agreed to hold its next congress in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on February 12, 2011.