Jamaal Shabazz, coach of the Trinidad and Tobago women’s football team, accepts the recent decision by CONCACAF to withdraw its support from the men’s and women’s football competitions in the 2010 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Puerto Rico due to a lack of suitable facilities.
According to a story on the CONCACAF website, “after a review and analysis of commissioned inspection reports it was decided that the facilities and conditions of the tournament to be held in Mayaguez do not meet the minimum standards required to conduct an international tournament. CONCACAF therefore will not assist in the organisation of the event by sending staff and match officials.”
And Shabazz, in a brief interview on Wednesday, stated that he is disappointed that the national women’s team will not be participating, but understands the stance taken by CONCACAF. “I’m a bit disappointed because of the cancellation, by CONCACAF, of the CAC Games, but CONCACAF knows best,” said Shabazz.
“They know the type of standard and facilities that they want to maintain.” However the national women’s team will be using the time, which would have been spent at the CAC Games later this month, to prepare for the CONCACF Women’s Gold Cup, which is set for late October-early November, at a venue to be announced.
The other participants at the Gold Cup are Haiti, Guyana, Canada, Mexico, United States, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Chavez says yes to Concacaf.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez announced Thursday his country will host the soccer competition of the upcoming Central American & Caribbean Games after the sport’s regulating body refused to sanction play in Puerto Rico citing shoddy fields and facilities.
CAC Games organizers in Puerto Rico pulled the plug on the soccer competition Tuesday, less than a week after the Confederation of North, Central American & Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), Fifa’s arm in North and Central America, said conditions did not meet the minimum standards for an international event.
“Fifa did not approve the soccer stadiums for the tournament in Puerto Rico. So they asked me if we could do it here and we gave our approval to stage the games,” Chávez said during an address on Venezuelan state TV and radio on Thursday. “Of course, how could we say no.
I gave the green light immediately,” Chávez said. “So top-notch football (soccer) will be played here in the coming days.” Efe news agency reported that Concacaf received official word from Chávez Wednesday that his country would host the CAC Games soccer competition.