The 57th Cayman Islands Football Association Annual General Meeting is scheduled for 23 Sept. At the centre of attention will be candidates Antwan Seymour and Mark Beckford, who are hoping to be elected as first vice president.
Beckford, who is the current first vice president, is hoping to be re-elected, while Seymour plans to bring change to the association that he says is in need of more transparency, organisation, and an efficient framework.
According to the CIFA memorandum, vice presidents shall be responsible for technical, development, competitions and tournaments. Following the AGM, the executive committee will hold a meeting, where the president, Alfredo Whittaker, shall assign each vice president a specific area of responsibility.
While Seymour and Beckford will have the spotlight on them during the congress, Martin Cooke and Mark Campbell are running for assistant general secretary, and Armando Ebanks will run unopposed for the treasurer.
It’s not the first time that Seymour has attempted to dethrone Beckford from the first VP chair. During the CIFA election in November 2019, Beckford ran unopposed – replacing previous first VP Bruce Blake. Seymour had been interest in running against Beckford at the time but was unable to secure a nomination.
No change needed?
Beckford says he believes the CIFA members will put their trust in him for another four years, saying that clubs are pleased with how things have been going.
“It is obvious that Mr. Antwon Seymour is my competitor (again) and, after speaking to most of the the clubs, they are happy with CIFA’s performance overall as the clubs are getting more now than ever before,” Beckford told the Compass in an email.
He noted that, with his help, CIFA has provided each club with two sets of uniforms, assistance to purchase football boots, bigger prize moneys and footballs.
“They see that CIFA is trying, not [me] alone, and that gives me joy,” Beckford said. “It is not about [me], it is how [I help] football, so yes, I believe that they will put their trust in me again.”
“We are building two new fields at the Centre of Excellence at the moment, and they are at the stage where the Planning Department needs to give us the greenlight on some changes that were mandated to be made by FIFA, and once that is done, we will be going full speed ahead,” he added.
During an interview in October 2022, Whittaker told the Compass that those two fields at the Centre of Excellence, which would include a mini-stadium, dorms and bleacher seating around 2,000 spectators would cost the association more than $7 million and was targeted to be completed by February this year. However, that completion date was not met.
In his first year, Beckford helped CIFA restore government funding to the association for the first time since 2016, following allegations of fraud and money laundering within the association. CIFA’s former treasurer Canover Watson and VP Blake were both jailed earlier this year for their involvement.
“I am very confident that the trust of the football family will remain the same, as I know the clubs all love football from the heart, and they can see the major changes that this CIFA has been doing since we reorganised the association,” Beckford said.
He says there is still much to get done, adding that he believes the first VP position – a voluntary role – is a rewarding one that helps save the lives of many players through football, in addition to contributing to getting CIFA back in good standing internationally.
“I still have a lot to offer and give back to my country, and it so happens that football is one of the avenues that I have chosen to do so,” he said. “I have always said that the more we develop our leagues, the better our National Teams will be.
“For example, look at the top leagues in the world, it does not matter where the players are from, as they attract the best players from around the world. This only makes the local players get more exposure to better players to develop their skills.
“Therefore, when the time comes to choose our National Teams, it will be very easy and we will be picking players from all clubs, be it Sunset, Cayman Brac, Tigers, etc., it would not matter. However, this burden on the clubs is very hard as we have an amateur league here in Cayman, and with the lack of resources, it is very hard.”
Beckford says his plan is work with the second VP, Dion Brandon, to appeal to the private sector for sponsorship for the national teams – both men and women – initially, and ultimately propelling the development of current and future clubs.
Change needed?
Seymour, a generational Caymanian footballer, being the son of Ernie ‘Gillie’ Seymour, has followed in his father’s footsteps in the sport – playing, coaching and managing at a league and national level for the Cayman Islands.
Prior to successfully being nominated, he issued a letter to clubs, titled ‘A Vision for Empowering Cayman Football’ for a chance at being voted in as the next first vice president at the AGM.
In the letter, Seymour stated that his desire to run for the position stems from his passion and vision for a more inclusive football community.
“This journey has granted me a deep understanding of the challenges and potential that our football landscape presents,” he said. “One of the key pillars of my platform is centered around the betterment of our clubs.”
While several teams have expressed to Beckford that they are happy with how things are going, Seymour says other clubs don’t feel the same way, and he plans on fixing that.
“It is disheartening to witness struggling clubs without the necessary support and direction from CIFA executives… I aim to bridge this gap by acting as the voice of the clubs. I will advocate for increased collaboration between members and executives, ensuring that the unique needs of each club are recognized and addressed.”
Seymour went on to say that he hopes to introduce new systems that will provide a platform for clubs to showcase their achievements and enhance fan experience.
“I believe that our football community deserves a more transparent, organized, and efficient framework,” he said. “I envision a league where electronic team sheets and scores can be submitted, and where live data on the league’s progress is readily accessible.”
He added that if he is elected, he intends to establish increased funding through merchandising and game sales. Additionally, he proposed a token player programme that would reward top performers.
“This initiative not only boosts player morale but also incentivizes excellence in the sport,” he said, while also highlighting that he will be providing opportunities for CIFA club coaches to train players at the national level.
The CIFA AGM will take place from 10am, at The Westin hotel, on 23 Sept.
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