President of the Jamaica Football Federation Captain Horace Burrell expressed his confidence in the Cayman Islands national football programme after watching a friendly game against Jamaica.
Jamaica defeated the Cayman Islands 2-0 at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex last Sunday.
Burrell praised Cayman for their efforts against the top team in the Caribbean in a keenly contested encounter.
He said: ‘The Cayman Islands national programme has come a long way under the directions of Technical Director and former Jamaica national player Carl Brown.
‘It is clear that this team has not only jumped 30 places up the FIFA rankings but has demonstrated their ability in this friendly game played here this evening.
‘I am confident that with the government and the cooperate community supporting the national programme this team will be a force to reckon with soon.
‘I have also envisioned that if these players stay together and are treated as a national team should be treated they will eventually find themselves at the top of the Caribbean ladder.
‘Jamaica is a poor country and the government pumps US$50,000 monthly in the national programme.
‘The government of Bermuda gives US$3m to their football programme and Trinidad gives millions.
‘This in addition to the various patriotic cooperate sponsors makes the programme become professional. The end product to these efforts has helped these countries to carve out their niche in this global sport.
‘From where I sat in the stand it was clear that the Cayman Islands national team players have potential.
‘I implore the government, the corperate body and the community at large to just stop and look at the big picture when the island produces professional players playing here and abroad attracting overseas interest and most importantly making the island stand out as it relates to recognition in sports.’
Burrell went on to say how pleased he was with Carl Brown’s input in this reality pointing out that he had indeed placed his heart in this programme as usual, taking the team so high up the FIFA rankings.
‘When Brown took up the offer to leave Jamaica to head the Cayman Islands national football programme I had no doubt that his participation would have made a difference,’ Burrell added.
‘What I did not know is that he would have taken such a short time to make such a significant change in the team’s development.
‘Football is the No.1 sport in the world and no nation should overlook the opportunity to capitalize on the talents and skills of the youngsters in going forward on the big pitch.
‘Jeffrey Webb has been doing a lot as president of the Cayman Islands Football Association. He and his team have worked assiduously to improve the standard of football on the island.
‘They have been very successful despite the obvious financial constrains and circumstances they face. The team needs the full support of the government and stakeholders to take it to the next level.’
The Reggae Boyz completed a one week training camp on the islands and played two friendly games against a Latinos Select team and the Cayman National team.
The training camp, the first under new technical director John Barnes was hosted by CIFA in partnership with several business places who gave cash or kind to make the camp a success.
This training camp was geared towards selecting the team which plays in the finals of the Digicel Caribbean Championship hosted by Jamaica next month.
The team left the island on Monday evening.
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