From Bernews

The CONCACAF Summit took place in the Cayman Islands this week, with Randy Horton serving as a guest speaker delivering an address the CONCACAF President called “inspirational”.

In attendance was the Bermuda Football Asociation delegation comprising BFA President Larry Mussenden, Player Development Committee Chair Mark Wade and General Secretary David Sabir.

Invited guests included Bermuda’s Minister of Sport Wayne Scott, along with Ministers of Sports from the other CONCACAF countries.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly Randolph Horton — a former professional footballer — was invited as a guest speaker.

He spoke on the topic “Football as an influential agent for positive change” wherein he highlighted significant periods of his career where football was a positive factor in people’s lives inclusive of Warwick Secondary School, its proud students and its motto “Vision Vigour Victory” and the New York Cosmos. He also spoke of the long-term positive relationship between the Bermuda Government and the BFA.

Other speakers were FIFA President Blatter, the Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson Miller, Dwight Yorke, Kieran Foley of Digicel, Shaka Hislop and Gala Banquet speaker Tokyo Sexwale, who was imprisoned on Robben Island with

Nelson Mandela and who highlighted the role of FIFA in the fight against apartheid when FIFA expelled South Africa from international football.

CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb praised Mr Horton’s speech, calling it “inspirational”.

Minister Scott was able to attend all the sessions and meet the leaders of FIFA and CONCACAF as well as the Ministers of Sports from the various countries. He was able to hear first hand of the amount of development resources invested in football, youth development and of the need for government participation.

In addition to the Tuesday summit, the BFA delegation attended working sessions on Monday and Wednesday in relation to the continued development of football in the region, the various programmes provided to Member Associations and other issues including the following:

New regulations for FIFA programmes;

The need for Technical Directors and technical structures;

Integrity in football;

The fight against racism and discrimination;

Women’s football development including a girl’s grassroots programme; and

Communication of football matters to the media and using different media and social media.

The BFA officials along with colleagues from other countries made presentations as follows:

Mark Wade on beach soccer;

David Sabir on communication between member countries; and

Larry Mussenden on strategic planning.

BFA President Larry Mussenden said “The BFA was absolutely thrilled that Minister Scott could attend the Summit to represent the Bermuda Government and to get a first hand understanding of our worldwide commitment and mandate to developing young people through football.

“The BFA looks forward to working with the Minister on a positive and exciting way forward for football and our youth as well as to continued work by the BFA Executive Committee and the Clubs to develop football.”

PHOTO: Mr Horton addressing the Summit

For more on this story and to view the video of Jeff Webb’s closing statement go to:

http://bernews.com/2013/10/concacaf-summit-concludes-in-cayman-islands/