Warner: New era in women’s footballCONCACAF president, Jack Austin Warner believes that women are the future of football and is pleased with the role the Caribbean is playing with the FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cup being hosted here.
Warner was speaking yesterday at the closing ceremony of the Women’s Regional Coaching Course at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Tunapuna.
There were 27 participants from 12 countries at the course conducted by
Anna Signeul from Sweden and Mexican Andrea Rodebaugh, on theoretical courses focused on the role of the coach, history and trends of women’s football, game analysis and preparation.
There were also practical courses on individual technical skill and the difference between technical and tactical skills.
Participants attended several matches of the current Under-17 World Cup to observe and analyse.
“I am a true believer in the statement, the future of football is feminine. The skill, the dedication and courage that I have seen over the last five days is comparable to none.
“The word is spreading quickly, women’s football has entered a new era. I know we may have started off slowly and our programmes may still face a number of challenges, but we are rewriting history in the Caribbean, “Women’s football has earned its rightful place. But we must use courses such as this one to transform the views on women’s football. Take what you have learned here, press the importance of women’ football to all stakeholders.
“Women’s football cannot be seen as the stepchild of our federations but it must be seen as an integral part of sport development initiatives,” said Warner.
He added “Sport is intricately linked to the development of a nation. We cannot speak of progress as a nation if we do not promote gender equality and equity on all fields.
“FIFA rules dictate that 15 per-cent of your FAP must be allocated to the development of Women’s Programmes. But why it must be only 15 percent, the time has come for us to ensure that there is equal distribution between our male and female programmes.”
The FIFA vice-president commended the Soca Princesses on their performances in the tournament this far and noted that sport is the only mechanism which could bring the country together.
“My passion for this beautiful game remains undaunted. Sport has the ability to transcend all boundaries, to create bonds and friendships where trade agreements have failed.
“Trinidad and Tobago’s U-17 Women’s team has united and given hope to a nation . Hope arouses, as nothing else can arouse, a passion for the possible and sometimes impossible.
“We are all members of our team. I beg you once again let us all use the opportunities afforded to us to transform the women’s game in the region,” Warner said.
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Warner: New era in women’s football“I would not like to look at today as the end, but the beginning. The beginning of a new era in women’s football to keep women’s football alive.” Those were the words of Fifa vice-president, Jack Warner, as he gave the feature address at the closing ceremony of the 10-day Fifa/Concacaf Women’s Football Coaching Course held yesterday at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya. The course was facilitated by Fifa coaches, former Mexican Under-20 coach, Andrea Rodebaugh and Scottish national women’s coach, Anna Signeul. The course which began last Wednesday, is part of the legacy programme for the Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup that is currently in progress. It is the second course of its kind in T&T and it included 28 participants from 12 regional countries including, Jamaica, Dominica, Anguilla, Suriname and T&T.
Warner urged the participants to go back to their respective territories and build the women’s game. “You have to go back to your respective countries and keep football alive,” Warner said. “Women’s football is here to stay, it is alive and kicking.” The Minister of Works and Transport explained that the performance of the teams playing in the Women’s World Cup is a prime example of where women’s football is in the world. “I would have never believed, that I would have walked two miles, with my ministerial colleagues to see a match,” he began. “And a women’s football match at that. We walked two miles to see the match on Wednesday.”
“But I walked two miles to see what in my humble view, was one of the most entertaining matches.” He shared that the T&T team has come a long way, and the entire country is behind them. “One year ago, that team from T&T would have gotten 15 or 20 goals by Nigeria. One year later, that very same team, has brought hope to a country that needs hope at this point in time. A year ago, this would have been unthinkable,” said Warner. He he went on to tell the coaches that it is their responsibility to convince their federations that women’s football must no longer be treated like a step child. “Women’s football and youth football are equalisers. It is easier to be competitive in women’s football.”
http://guardian.co.tt/sports/football/2010/09/11/warner-new-era-women-s-football
