A presentation by CONCACAF representative, Caymanian Jeffrey Webb, to the just concluded FIFA Congress, has come in for high praise by football association representatives across the Caribbean and Bermuda.
As Deputy Chairman of the Internal Audit Committee of FIFA, the world football governing body, Mr Webb presented the 2004 financial statement at the organisation’s 55th Congress in Morocco last week.
‘I was simply bursting with pride to see and hear a Caribbean man, a black Caribbean man, from one of the smallest member associations of FIFA present an important FIFA report to the 203 members present,’ said Vice-President of FIFA and President of CONCACAF Austin Jack Warner.
Mr Webb, a banker and President of the Cayman Islands Football Association for the past 14 years, became a scrutinizer of FIFA world financial management when he was approved as a member of the Internal Audit Committee on its formation in 2002.
He has since risen to Deputy Chairman, and it was in this capacity that he presented the 2004 report in the absence of Chairman, Dr. Carlos Carraro, of Italy.
‘Your professionalism and confidence in making the presentation served to reinforce and reaffirm my own confidence in nominating you for the Committee,’ Mr Warner added in a statement that was circulated throughout the Caribbean.
Mr Warner, who has been a FIFA Executive Committee Member since 1983, said that Mr Webb’s diligent approach to the work of his own organisation and to that of FIFA earmarks the Caymanian for further ascendancy within the world body. ‘You can be assured that it is the start of even more important roles in the FIFA for you.’
Jack Warner’s remarks were echoed by football representatives across the region from Bermuda in the north to Barbados in the south.
‘Well done Jeff, you have made our region and CONFED (CONCACAF) very proud,’ said Capt Horace Burrell, former Jamaica Football Federation President, current FIFA Executive Committee Member and Caribbean Football Union Vice-President.
Mr Burrell, who also chairs CONCACAF’s Disciplinary Committee further stated, ‘I concur with every word of praise showered on Jeff, I was so Proud that I was covered with goose pimples at the conclusion of his excellent presentation’.
In expressing his agreement with Jack Warner’s sentiments, Antigua and Barbuda Football Association General Secretary Gordon Derrick wrote, ‘On behalf of President Richards, the ABFA would like to officially add our commendation … Continue your march of excellence and continue to fly the flag of CONCACAF high’.
Barbados Football Association President, Ronald Jones said, ‘The President of CONCACAF has captured my sentiments on your presentation before the FIFA Congress’.
Describing Mr Webb’s presentation as an example of what exists in the Caribbean, Bermuda Football Association General Secretary David Sabir said, ‘Not only did you present your subject matter expertly, but the manner in which you took command of the stage demonstrated the professionalism that you possess’.
‘I was overcome with tremendous pride knowing that one of our own presented to the entire world football family as good as or even better than those we have witnessed many times before you.’
The Internal Audit Committee is an independent FIFA agency that, along with the organisation’s official external auditors KPMG, is responsible for supervising the accounting practices and financial management of world football’s governing body. It presents annual reports on FIFA’s closing balance sheets and the profit and loss accounts.
CONCACAF, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, is the umbrella organisation for 40 nation associations from Canada to Suriname.
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