Warner launches women's seminar

[E-man]

Warner launches women's seminar.
By: Mark Pouchet (T&T Express).

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.


GLOBAL EVENT: Officials at the launch of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation's Com-UNITY Seminar at the Centre of Excellence yesterday. Front row, left to right: Mayi Blanco Cruz; Ambassador Guifela Godinez, Embassy of Guatemala; Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation president Oliver Camps; FIFA vice-president Jack Warner; Michelle Cox; Heike Ullrich. Back row, left to right: FIFA Development Officer for the Caribbean Harold Taylor; Harold Mayne Nicholls; Oliver Voyt; Keith Look Loy and Les Dickens.   

[Tallman]

Women weigh in at T&T Com-Unity
FIFA.com

Fun filled Trinidad & Tobago got down to some serious business in preparation for the FIFA 2010 Women's U-17 World Cup. A FIFA delegation of instructors and development officers assisted local participants in a FIFA Com-Unity seminar, providing the hosts with a perfect platform to raise awareness of women's football, both within the football family and the wider community.

The main topic of the seminar was the design of a blueprint and strategic plan to be implemented by the Local Organising Committee (LOC), working with media and marketing partners, to help ensure a successful tournament and leaving an ongoing legacy for the country and the region.

The opening speech was given by Mr Jack A. Warner, FIFA Vice President and CONCACAF President, who provided passionate words of encouragement and guidance. "This is a world event ... we need to take this to a new level", he stated. "Over the next three days we are empty vessels waiting to be filled with knowledge and information. Planning, precision and execution will ensure us a successful FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup."

There is nothing more emotional than to see a young player representing their country, at any level, even better when the speaker is a 16-year-old goalkeeper talking with passion about her sport, team and country. "We want to change history, and to change the way we look at women's football," said Trinidad & Tobago representative Linfa Cox, who then pledged on behalf of the U-17 team to play fair, to be competitive and give their best in representing T&T.

Ambitious hosts
The importance of a successful host nation team who are capable of advancing to the latter stage of the tournament can never be understated. With that in mind, Jamal Shabaaz, a member of the Trinidad & Tobago technical staff, shared details of an increased training program under the guidance of Norwegian FIFA Women's World Cup™-winning coach Even Pellerud. "The girls are coming into their own, as a group I am pleased with how they have adjusted to a higher volume of training," said Shabaaz. "The training has been upped from four sessions to seven sessions per week and the progress is pleasing."

Words of expertise and experience were provided by FIFA representatives from last year's Women's World Cup, namely Michele Cox head of New Zealand's U-17 LOC, and Harold Maine-Nicholls head of Chile's U-20 LOC. Germany's LOC administrator for both the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and 2011 Women's World Cup, Heike Ullrich, said the premise was to hand the baton to the TTFF and to demonstrate best practices for promoting the female game and to embrace it with open arms.

The rise in popularity of women's football throughout the world has been helped by grassroots projects and the ongoing success of the FIFA Women's World Cup at U-17 and U20 level. With increasing coverage, the women's game is enjoying an exciting period of growth, with new TV audience records, greater numbers of girls and women playing and broader acceptance by the general public around the world.

The Women's FIFA Com-Unity seminar retained the traditional format of inviting Government, media, marketing and members of the football community to gather under one roof and listen, learn and debate the passionate subject of football. The island backdrop evokes the image of palms, sun and sand, but this twin island nation has sporting ambitions which contrast with such a small population. Stars such as former Manchester United striker Dwight York and cricket legend Brian Lara will be invited to join their young compatriot female stars to promote the event as ambassadors of the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

The carnival Caribbean nation is moving with rhythm towards a world class event with the slogan ‘Small Island Big Passion'. Women's football seems set to carve a niche into the palmed-tree landscape of Trinidad and Tobago creating a lasting legacy.

[nnyman18]

looking forward to see what comes out of this