The future of football...
FIFA vice-president Jack Warner called on all stakeholders to come on board to ensure the prominence of women in football and the success of Trinidad and Tobago's hosting of the FIFA Women's Under-17 World Cup in September next year.
Warner was speaking at yesterday's launch of the FIFA Com-Unity Seminar at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya, a three day event focused on preparing this country to host the global event.
"I chose that adjective, historic, very carefully and I mulled over it for a while, but I know now it is the most appropriate word to describe today's event," said the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) special adviser.
"Trinidad and Tobago's journey to the FIFA 2010 Under-17 Women's World Cup began some two years ago when Trinidad and Tobago was granted the rights by the FIFA to host the tournament. Now that journey has reached an intersection...Trinidad and Tobago is at a meeting point in its journey, a place where all of you will decide the next course of action. You know the destination but Trinidad and Tobago and the FIFA must go on this journey together."
Warner stated that over the next three days representatives from FIFA, internationally-recognised personnel from the sporting world and members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) will deliver several presentations that will focus on a number of issues, including the facts and figures of the World Cup, the marketing opportunities and how far Trinidad and Tobago have reached in preparing for this major event.
Warner continued: "The FIFA 2010 Under-17 Women's World Cup next year is not about one team, it's not just a World Cup. It's about passion, women's passion...it's about emotion, women's emotion; it's about the world...a woman's world!
"The event is a catalyst for change in Trinidad and Tobago. Women's football will not only be transformed as Trinidad and Tobago makes this journey to the FIFA 2010 Women's World Cup. The journey is intended to continue well after that. Women's football must be transformed. But this transformation can only occur if all stakeholders are on board."
He said FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter had always said that the future of football is feminine.
"I truly believe that, for I too, like many in this country at one point in time, never understood the true concept of women's football," he admitted.
Warner advised that the TTFF had started to take women's football seriously with the introduction of Norwegian coach Even Pellerud; restructuring their administrative arm; and establishing a number of programmes aimed at women in the lower age-groups.
Looking forward to the Under-17 World Cup, the CFU and CONCACAF boss said the local LOC, to be headed by Nataki Kerr, was already up and running and would be reaching out to volunteers in the near future.
Earlier, national women's Under-17 footballer Linfah Jones delivered the pledge.
"The event is not about a team, it is about a county, it is about a people and a legacy. Let us show the world we are the home of women's football," Jones stated.
The seminar, which started yesterday and will end tomorrow at the same venue, will address the planning, organisation and execution of World Cup events on three levels.
Firstly, day one of the presentation addressed government representatives and technical personnel, while today's programme, day two, will focus on media and communications specialists.
The third and final day will concentrate on marketing partners and specialists.