By Lesroy W. Williams Observer Reporter
” (Basseterre, St.Kitts)”The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) opened an administration and management course for countries of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) at the St.Kitts Marriott Resort, Frigate Bay, which will run from October 9-14. At the opening ceremony on October 9, FIFA Development Officer, Mr. Harold Taylor, Trinidadian, said that the course was designed to teach teachers in the areas of management and administration, so that they can go back to their respective countries and teach others. “If you go back and you get them to understand what you are trying to do, that you are trying to build capacity in the association, that you are trying to make sure that the clubs and the regional associations are managed properly, then I believe all of us will be on the same page and we will work together,” Mr. Taylor said. “The first thing you teach is yourself.” In the past, some people came to the workshops for the wrong reasons, some came for the shoes and the jerseys but did nothing for the administration of football afterwards, Mr. Taylor said. “All of us are really interested in football, some of us have a different way that we want to do it, but in fact all of us are interested in football; very often we end up fighting, fighting, each other; we spend so much time fighting that we forget what we were really there for and that is to develop football,” Mr. Taylor said. The St.Kitts-Nevis Football Association has had problems in recent weeks with executive elections. Accusations of corruption in the election process were made and there has been a rift that still has not been healed. FIFA officials were called to intervene in the matter and a fresh outcome is still pending with recommendations from the world football governing body. President of the St. Kitts”Nevis Football Association (SKNFA), Peter Jenkins, said that given his 25 years of experience in football there is a lot that he can teach others especially the younger ones. “This management workshop is held at a time when the CFU countries continue to do poorly on the field of play. The qualifying countries to FIFA competitions continue to be from North America and Latin America. Referees in the major competitions in the world continue to come from the same countries and the situation is not much different with our inspectors and commissioners,” Mr. Jenkins said. The SKNFA selected four persons for the training workshop. They are Lindberg Belle, Ervin Williams, David Allen and Sarah Willock-Kelly. Mr. Jenkins made it clear that he was expecting that all four of them qualify to become FIFA certified instructors.”” Minister of State with responsibility for Sports, the Hon. Richard Skerritt said that over the years St.Kitts football has enjoyed good leadership and the support of the government. He highlighted the importance of volunteerism in football. Mr. Skerritt spoke about the importance of learning to establish and manage standards. “Football engenders a lot of passion,” he said. It was mentioned at the opening ceremony that there are plans endorsed by FIFA to build a football technical centre equipped with a library, classrooms and a multi-media centre in St. Peters. The Acting Governor-General, Mr. Edmund Lawrence attended the opening ceremony, Mr. Keithley Phillip chaired the proceedings, Mr. Alex Condelle rendered a saxophone instrumental and Mrs. Sarah Willock-Kelly gave the prayer.
