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CONCACAF Director of Development Richard Braithwaite visited The FA this week, building on the strong bonds that have been forged over recent years, and Richard was also able to watch one of his favourite players in The FA Cup.


With the excitement surrounding Trinidad and Tobago's qualification for the World Cup in Germany reaching fever pitch, Richard was delighted to watch Shaka Hislop in action for West Ham.

But once the game was over Richard spoke to TheFA.com about the relationship between CONCACAF and The FA, and how the work of the last five years has undoubtedly aided Trinidad and Tobago's incredible feat.

"It was an amazing feeling when they qualified for the World Cup and thoroughly deserved," Richard told us.

"It was ironic when it happened, because we were in the middle of an FA workshop on coaching development and we had to stop to celebrate.

"It was fitting because these workshops have helped so much in improving football in the region."

Richard feels that it is important not to forget the work that has gone in over recent years that has given players and coaches from the region the platform to succeed.

"CONCACAF has an excellent relationship with The FA and we are extremely grateful for the support they have given us in the last five years.

"We have had a number of workshops in the last five years, on coach education, football administration, refereeing and sports medicine.

"Hundreds of people from the region have attended these workshops and the evidence of their success comes in growth of football in the area. It has been significant in the last few years, with the reggae boys of Jamaica and the Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago.

"Football here is definitely on the upswing and The FA have certainly played a part in it. We are starting to see the signs of it. I recall a coach who attended an FA International coaching licence, well a year later he was in charge of the Panama Under-20 team who qualified for the Under-20 World Cup for the first time in their history."

But there is no doubting the player that brings the biggest joy to football fans in the Caribbean.

Richard told us with a beaming smile: "Dwight Yorke is something of a phenomenon, he has achieved consistent success at the highest level. When someone comes from a tiny island to make an impact as he did, it is an incredible story.

"When the history of football is written, certainly in Caribbean terms, he is right at the top. His success if a fairytale story, I cannot speak highly enough about Dwight.

"But hopefully with work we can see more players like Dwight and Shaka.

"If we can educate our coaches we will certainly be on the way to doing that, some people say 'You can't coach genius' but with better coaches we can give it the best chance of developing. You may not find another Dwight, but we might come close."

But what of Dwight and the Soca Warriors' chances come the summer?

"They will give their best fight in Germany and I believe in them. France were not worried about Senegal last time, maybe they should have been. The World Cup is a big dance and for every team the ball is round.

"We have many players who know the English game, so they can certainly give England a tough test. It will be a marvelous moment for everyone from the region and hopefully there are many more in the future."