HISTORIC! Eight Elite Clubs Meet To Discuss Future

May 27, 2015 Sports

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CONCACAF Club Licensing makes smooth transition in Guyana

The new club licensing system that has been established by CONCACAF in the confederation has made a smooth transition in Guyana with eleven clubs already making the mark and have been duly granted their licenses

by the Guyana Football Federation following the verification process.
Of the eleven clubs, eight have been selected to be part of the inaugural GFF Elite League which will take flight later this year according to GFF Technical Director, Claude Bolton.
On Monday afternoon last at the Water Chris Hotel, Quamina Street, the eight Elite Clubs were privileged to be part of a seminar with Mr. Andres Portabella – CONCACAF Club Licensing Manager and Mr. Michael Gandler – FIFA Consultant.
The eight Elite Clubs are Alpha United FC, Guyana Defense Force, Slingerz FC, Monedderlust FC, Fruta Conquerors, Georgetown Football Club, Pele FC and Buxton FC.
The activity sought in the first instance to congratulate the clubs on their selection for the GFF Elite League whilst Portabella took the opportunity to walk the club through the intricacies of embracing the new concept of Club Licensing and what it entails with a view to making Guyana’s structure more efficient.
Portabella explained the reason behind club licensing: “The main objective is to improve the quality of all football clubs, all futsal and beach soccer clubs in the CONCACAF region, both men and women.”
Each of the forty-one members association in CONCACAF is being assisted to implement the club licensing system. Portabella informed that the club licensing system sets minimum criteria for clubs to participate in their leagues at the domestic level which is now kicking in 2015 and 2016.
“In 2017 we’ll set a regional criteria that will establish minimum criteria to participate in CONCACAF Club competitions. So basically in this first stage what CONCACAF has done is grab the FIFA club licensing regulations and we have adapted them to a set of CONCACAF club licensing regulations which every single federation in CONCACAF has to adapt to a federation set of club licensing regulations.”
It was pointed out by Portabella that CONCACAF has brought down the level of criteria to a basic level so that the system can be inclusive, including all clubs in the region whether they are super professional or very amateur.
“Basically, we gave set the requirements for clubs to fill out four forms and to be able to fulfill eleven (11) additional requirements which are extremely simple. So in this way we are guaranteeing that all clubs are included into this new system and that we set a long term foundation for development of all clubs.”
He noted that in this first phase CONCACAF will get to know each club within the confederation from who owns and manages the club to who finances the club, which players play with the club as well as their youth outfits and training facilities among others.
“This will allow us to in the future set even more criteria gradually that will allow the whole region to grow together in the long term.”
The CONCACAF Club Licensing project has already touched down in other countries; Portabella’s last stop was Bonaire, one of the smallest affiliates in the confederation.
“We’ve had a great reaction from the clubs there. They have embraced us and the system and are ready to take on this new project and the movement to develop their clubs.”
More developed federations would have also been visited by Portabella including Costa Rica and Panama which have more developed systems.
“They have already increased the domestic criteria; CONCACAF has set basic criteria at the domestic level but each federation is allowed to increase the criteria a little bit. So for example Costa Rica has increased a little bit that criteria and its working well for them because their clubs are much more advanced than the average club in the CONCACAF region.”
Jamaica has also been visited and they have been doing well according to Portabella with regard to embracing the system.
Zooming in on CONCACAF’s Mission Statement: “To develop, promote and manage football throughout the region with integrity, transparency and passion in order to inspire participation in the game”
Portabella stated that inspiring participation is key: “So we want to inspire more clubs, we want to inspire more leagues, more administrators, and more coaches to take their organization o the next level.”
Also established by CONCACAF is a new set of guides for leagues and clubs. The confederation is also doing documentaries on leagues, clubs and infrastructure throughout the region; case studies on different clubs and leagues with a view to providing examples and best practices from the region and to share this information to clubs.
“If we are able to share knowledge we’re doing our job the right way. We’re becoming a sort of information facilitator at CONCACAF. It will allow someone in Bermuda to learn what somebody in Nicaragua is doing and somebody in Nicaragua to learn what somebody in Canada is doing.”

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