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GFF to host FIFA Conference on Development from May 14-16
By Zaheer Mohamed
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) in partnership with FIFA will be hosting a FIFA Conference on Development from May 14-16 at Guyana Marriott. This disclosure was made yesterday at a press conference at the same venue.
The GFF and the Tourism Hospitality Association of Guyana have collaborated to bring off this event, which will see representatives
GFF President Wayne Forde (Center), Mitra Ramkumar (left) of the Tourism Hospitality of Guyana and Donald Sinclair, Director General, Department of Tourism share a moment following the press conference.
from all Caribbean Football Union members and Africa attending.
President of the GFF, Wayne Forde informed that a full body of the FIFA Development team will be here to work along with the staff members of the GFF and from the Guyana Tourism family.
“One of the key areas of focus will be a comprehensive regional schools football programme. During President Infantino’s visit here, we had extensive discussions on the importance of schools’ football and the extent to which it can contribute to the overall development of the game throughout the region.”
Forde noted that it is important to indentify talent in its earliest stage. “We have been working feverishly at the GFF on a long term strategic plan to implement football at both the primary and secondary levels. We have established working modalities with FIFA for support in training Physical Education teachers to conduct the fundamental coaching aspect of the game and to serve as match officials, and even students who are exiting secondary schools.
“A model is being developed that would allow us to launch a secondary school league that will be of quality. FIFA has submitted a draft to the CARICOM family that I understand is being considered by all members of the community, he added.
The GFF head said that he is happy to acknowledge the warm extension of friendship from their tourism colleagues and their efforts to promote Guyana. He pointed out that the federation recognises that sports tourism is an area that they may not have pay much attention to in the past, but it is very critical to their efforts to commercialise the sport.
“The GFF has demonstrated to international governing bodies that we have overtime, developed the capability to run off well organised international events and more so competitions, and I am very happy to have the Government’s support in hosting this venture.”
Forde indicated they have been working on a preparation plan for Guyana’s Golden Jaguars participation in the CONCACAF Gold Cup which includes international home and away games. “We are doing a budget that will see close to three weeks of preparation plans, most of which will be spent outside of Guyana and will be reaching out to the Government of Guyana for support.”
Mitra Ramkumar of the Tourism Hospitality Association of Guyana, said this is a remarkable achievement by the GFF to have such a conference being hosted here, adding that destinations have positioned themselves as attractive for conferences and seminars and tourism fits in well. He added that this partnership will extend beyond this conference. “We have targeted beach football events at our resorts across the country, which will give youths an opportunity to show case their skills. Sports tourism is a huge market and has a huge following so you actually get tremendous amount of coverage.”
He said they are happy to partner with the GFF and is looking forward to a successful conference. Director General, Department of Tourism, Donald Sinclair stated that sports and tourism have a strong interconnection and that the Department of Tourism is advocating this very strongly. He informed that next week at the GOA Headquarters they will be having their Sports Tourism Agenda for 2019-2020.
This effort by the GFF has to be supported, adding that it is important to have FIFA here and this will definitely help in the development of the sport.
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