CONCACAF boss optimistic of infrastructural development
By Akeem Greene
It has just been nine-months in office for Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani and on his first visit to Guyana on Tuesday expressed optimism about the future of football in the South American nation.
Montagliani’s viewpoint stems from the fact that the government through the National Sports Commission (NSC) has expressed a willingness to support the game especially in helping to develop facilities.
The members of the head table at the Press conference at the Guyana Pegasus on Tuesday. From left; President of Aruba Football Federation Richard Dijkhoff, President of Guyana Football Federation Wayne Forde, President of CONCACAF Victor Montagiani, President of St Marteen Football Federation Fabrice Baly and Director of Member Associations and Legal Affairs of CONCACAF Marco Leal
“One of the biggest issues in CONCACAF is that you have struggle with facilities and those are challenges that cannot be fixed overnight but I was pleased to see a government really supporting our sport in looking at ways to help,” the Canadian stated while speaking at press conference at the Guyana Pegasus.
He added, “With that kind of support tackling the issues of facilities will be good since at the end of the day no one entity can do it on its own; I’m very optimistic that those infrastructural challenges can be tackled.” However, though the support is welcomed by Montagliani, he felt that it must not be short-term since “it has to be tackled in the right way and has to be a long term plan over the next 10 to 20 years.”
In the interim, the development of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Academy Training Centers (ATC) should remain a focus since in the President’s mind, this will be the precursor for more to be accomplished.
Montagliani contended that the relations being built is due to the body being more inclusive to territories and it will only auger well for countries like Guyana.
“I think it is important to know that CONACAF had a allot of walls around it and we have been able to break through those walls by coming together allot part of the discussion we have been around development, discussing areas where members like Guyana can take advantage,” the President stated.
