By Sean A Williams Deputy Sport Editor From Jamaica Observer

The purpose of CONCACAF’s newly inaugurated Caribbean development office, through official rhetoric, is expected to be wide ranging in portfolio, and through “strategic execution”, far-reaching in effect.

To get the ball rolling, the office already has in its scope achievable short-term goals, but its leading protagonist has also ambitiously set his sights on those targets that may be way off in the distance.

At the official opening at the Courtleigh Corporate Centre in Kingston on Wednesday night, the office’s director, Jamaican Horace Reid, was eloquent in painting an image of the developmental goals and aspirations that will represent the interest of the confederation’s 31 Caribbean members.

“What we want to make sure [of] is the work that we do in the Caribbean will enable our members to get up to a competitive level consistently, and not every now and again,” said Reid.

“We were very pleased to see Jamaica going to the final of the Gold Cup and that was a first time for a Caribbean country, so this office wants to be able to work with our members to have those performances more consistently, not only in the Gold Cup, but in all the tournaments,” he said.

Reid, a former Jamaica Football Federation general secretary, pointed to the possibilities that could accrue from the multiple layers of the office’s work that should, over time, manifest itself in concrete tangibles.

And the possibility of hosting CONCACAF Gold Cup matches in the Caribbean and Central America, which is a dream of confederation boss Victor Montagliani, does not seem so far-fetched after all.

“There is a vision of the CONCACAF president to open tournaments like the Gold Cup to the entire region, so there is a possibility that somewhere down the road three or four Caribbean countries could host a Gold Cup match. That is a dream and an ambition that is entertained by the president,” Reid shared with the Jamaica Observer.

The regional development chief said as a platform in the pursuit of shared goals, symbiotic links between his office and each member association are critical for success.

“I would want this new office, as its first mandate, to be able to develop the relationship with each member association, because I think it is that relationship that is going to engender the confidence that, as partners, we are here to support their vision and to support their work,” Reid declared.

“They (Caribbean members) will be able to reach out to us just as much as we will be reaching out to them, as we will be working with them very closely. Each association has a technical director and our development manager will be working with the technical director. We will be working with the administration, because part of what we do is to make sure we have good governance across the membership,” he noted.

In another week as the short-term goal activation kicks off, the development office is expected to embark on administration courses “to elevate the staff at different federations”.

“There a number of initiatives that will be available to the members and there is also the One CONCACAF Fund that provides funding to each member on an annual basis, and that fund is focused primarily on youth development.

“Part of what we will be doing is to be monitoring how those funds are utilised, not only in accordance with the applications that have been submitted, but also to assess those programmes and to take the best practices and share them across the other associations,” Reid said.

The veteran administrator, who is one of the architects of Jamaica’s successful France 1998 World Cup campaign, shared that the Caribbean region’s needs are diverse, therefore his office will be challenged to address issues across cultural and linguistic lines.

“I can’t say that there is a weakest area because of how the Caribbean is spread as it is very diverse, but what we also want to do is to help those members who don’t want to focus on eleven-a-side football, but instead want to do beach soccer, want to do futsal, like what Bahamas is doing, so we want to be able to help them do that,” stated Reid.

The former director of CONCACAF’s competitions office, Reid is clearly buoyed by the potential of the region to grow as a football jurisdiction.

“Moving around the region, we see so much potential and we believe that once we have the right people in positions to service the membership, then we will be able to do a lot of things for the members, and with the members.

“It must be clear that the office is not here to dictate to the members what they do, it is here to engender and assist their growth and development in a very strategic way, and that is what we want to do,” Reid said.

In its broad mandate of growing the game in the region on key pillars of development and competition, every element from grass roots through to proper governance will be in the new office’s remit.

“Women’s football and grass roots are priorities, capacity building is a priority, sporting education is a priority, and our competitions, which still remain a priority,” Reid expressed.

The Jamaican, who has hired compatriots Latoya DaCosta (competitions) and Andre Waugh (development), said he is relishing his new role.

“I see it as an opportunity to serve the Caribbean as I am a Caribbean person, therefore I am motivated by this opportunity. So I never hesitated when I was asked because I also saw it as a new challenge, having been in the competitions department of CONCACAF for four years,” Reid concluded.

IMAGE: Newly appointed CONCACAF director of Caribbean football, Horace Reid tries out his new chair at Wednesday night’s official opening of the Caribbean Football Development Office at the Courtleigh Corporate Centre in New Kingston. Looking over Reid’s shoulder are CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani (right) and General Secretary Phillipe Moggio. (Photos: Joseph Wellington)

For more on this story go to: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Reid-embraces-new-challenge–wants-_92779