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Warner calls on regional gov'ts to invest in football
DANIA BOGLE, Observer staff reporter
Thursday, June 14, 2007
CARIBBEAN governments should not depend solely on sponsorship from private corporate entities for the development of football in the region, says CONCACAF and Caribbean Football Union boss Austin 'Jack' Warner.
Speaking in New York at the announcement of Digicel's four-year extension of its title sponsorship of the Caribbean Cup competition last weekend, Warner noted that despite the communication giant's backing of the sport in the region, governments needed to contribute to ensure the growth of the sport.
"Governments must come in and help," Warner said. "Far too often the governments of the region believe that because (Digicel) is the football's fairy-godfather that there is no role for them to play."
"(Digicel) didn't come to displace or remove the governments' involvement; they came to supplement, to assist... governments must now put infrastructure in place to assist... stadiums, practice pitches, training camps that can help these countries to move forward," Warner added.
The Trinidadian, who has been at the helm of CONCACAF since 1990, said it was evident Caribbean countries were starting to improve their game and could go even further with the right support.
He added that even if regional teams did not qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals, there were other events for which they could qualify - the FIFA World Under-17 and Under-20 Championships and the Olympic Games.
He mentioned St Kitts/Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago as countries that had qualified for the CONCACAF under-17 qualifying competitions.
"By and large these countries are starting to show their potential and coming into their own if they could put their houses in order. I believe that they will do well in their various competitions," he said.
Additionally, Warner said individuals who complained that monies for building stadia and other sporting facilities could be spent more wisely were not thinking long term.
"People who make that argument are just shortsighted," Warner said. "... They build stadiums for sport because they can help to make the citizens healthy, and wealthy, and strong."
He added that sport was the one area in which the Caribbean would always be able to make its mark.
"The flags of the countries in the Caribbean will never be flown on the field of war. They will only be flown on the field of sport, and for me football, and we should make sure more money is spent on sport prudently and... make sure everybody benefits, " Warner said.
Digicel last Friday announced it would be extending its sponsorship of the Caribbean Cup by four years through the 2008-09 and 2010-11 tournaments.
The Digicel Caribbean Cup is a qualifying tournament for the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition.
DANIA BOGLE, Observer staff reporter
Thursday, June 14, 2007
CARIBBEAN governments should not depend solely on sponsorship from private corporate entities for the development of football in the region, says CONCACAF and Caribbean Football Union boss Austin 'Jack' Warner.
Speaking in New York at the announcement of Digicel's four-year extension of its title sponsorship of the Caribbean Cup competition last weekend, Warner noted that despite the communication giant's backing of the sport in the region, governments needed to contribute to ensure the growth of the sport.
"Governments must come in and help," Warner said. "Far too often the governments of the region believe that because (Digicel) is the football's fairy-godfather that there is no role for them to play."
"(Digicel) didn't come to displace or remove the governments' involvement; they came to supplement, to assist... governments must now put infrastructure in place to assist... stadiums, practice pitches, training camps that can help these countries to move forward," Warner added.
The Trinidadian, who has been at the helm of CONCACAF since 1990, said it was evident Caribbean countries were starting to improve their game and could go even further with the right support.
He added that even if regional teams did not qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals, there were other events for which they could qualify - the FIFA World Under-17 and Under-20 Championships and the Olympic Games.
He mentioned St Kitts/Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago as countries that had qualified for the CONCACAF under-17 qualifying competitions.
"By and large these countries are starting to show their potential and coming into their own if they could put their houses in order. I believe that they will do well in their various competitions," he said.
Additionally, Warner said individuals who complained that monies for building stadia and other sporting facilities could be spent more wisely were not thinking long term.
"People who make that argument are just shortsighted," Warner said. "... They build stadiums for sport because they can help to make the citizens healthy, and wealthy, and strong."
He added that sport was the one area in which the Caribbean would always be able to make its mark.
"The flags of the countries in the Caribbean will never be flown on the field of war. They will only be flown on the field of sport, and for me football, and we should make sure more money is spent on sport prudently and... make sure everybody benefits, " Warner said.
Digicel last Friday announced it would be extending its sponsorship of the Caribbean Cup by four years through the 2008-09 and 2010-11 tournaments.
The Digicel Caribbean Cup is a qualifying tournament for the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition.