• President Montagliani saw first-hand the impressive football development progress in all three member federations
  • The Concacaf leader met with federation Presidents, local football stakeholders, politicians and attended matches

 

Concacaf’s President, Victor Montagliani, last week completed a tour of three Caribbean member federations to witness first-hand their impressive ongoing football development initiatives and meet with local stakeholders to understand opportunities and challenges to growing the game in the region.

Montagliani began his tour in Jamaica where he met with Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts and General Secretary Dennis Chung. The JFF leadership briefed Montagliani on plan to work with the Jamaican government to enhance the National Stadium and on the impressive growth of the local men’s league, the Jamaica Premier League and the development of the women’s game, with Jamaica’s Frazsiers Whip FC the sole Caribbean club in Concacaf’s new W Champions Cup. Montagliani was joined during the Jamaica visit by Bermuda FA President Mark Wade and St Lucia FA President Lyndon Cooper, both highly experienced federation Presidents who have led and delivered considerable growth and success in their respective territories.

Montagliani also met with the Jamaican Minister of Sport, Olivia Grange, providing an opportunity to discuss how the Government can support the redevelopment of the National Stadium and continue to promote football throughout the country. The Concacaf President also thoroughly enjoyed meeting JFF members and stakeholders and took the time to visit Jamaica-based broadcaster SportsMax and conduct a wide-ranging interview on the growth of Concacaf and football in the region with key presenters Lance Whittaker and Mariah Ramharack.

Concacaf president SportsMax interview

Following his time in Jamaica, Montagliani visited the Bonaire Football Federation where he joined President Ludwig Balentin to meet with local football stakeholders, the federation’s Council, football facilities supporting the growth of the sport and the territory’s Commissioner of Sport.

After a successful Bonaire visit, the Concacaf President visited the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) where he met with President Wayne Ford and his leadership team to discuss the ongoing growth of football in Guyana, including attending a special ceremony for the unveiling of a new multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue being developed through a partnership between the GFF and Blue Water Shipping, with support from the local government, Concacaf and FIFA. Montagliani and GFF President Ford met with the nation’s President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, to hear about the Government’s support for new football facilities in Guyana.

The Concacaf President rounded off his visit to Guyana by officially opening the country’s U13 girl’s nationwide football competition at the GFF national training center. The tournament is backed by the GFF and will include 40 local participating schools with the aim of encouraging more girls in Guyana to engage with football.

“It was a privilege for me to visit Jamaica, Bonaire and Guyana and witness first-hand the excellent work their respective football federations are undertaking to grow and develop football at all levels. It was clear to me from attending local league matches, witnessing the improvement plans for new facilities and seeing youth tournaments in action that there is great work being done to provide football opportunities to men, women and youth in the Caribbean region. I want to personally thank President Ricketts of the JFF, President Balentin of the Bonaire Football Federation and President Ford of the GFF and their respective football families for their warm hospitality and for their ongoing commitment to growing the game in Concacaf”, said Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President, Victor Montagliani.

The Concacaf President was joined on his visits by the confederation’s Director of Member Services for the Caribbean region, Howard McIntosh, Director of Caribbean Member Association Affairs, Horace Reid, Member Association Affairs Senior Manager, Sofia Malizia and Protocol Manager Nidia Mercado.