October 16 – The landmark CONCACAF summit in the Cayman Islands next week (October 21-22) will kick off with an address by South African freedom fighter and football supporter Tokyo Sexwale (pictured) at a dinner hosted by president Jeffrey Webb.
Sexwale was a political prisoner in an isolation cell on Robben Island, where he was held along with Nelson Mandela and other leading figures in the struggle against the country’s apartheid regime. Sexwale and other prisoners kept their spirits up by playing football and even formed their own football association, known as the Makana FA (and since given honorary membership of FIFA), with Sexwale as secretary. He was later a leading figure in bringing the 2010 FIFA World Cup to a now free and democratic South Africa.
The CONCACAF sports summit is themed ‘Transformation through partnership’ and its objective is to enhance the partnership between governments and football federations in the development of the game throughout the region, but also to encourage the opportunities of sports tourism and social and economic development.
The event is another major step in the process of CONCACAF reform that is being driven through by Webb who is intent on empowering all his federations across the region though greater involvement in the work of the Confederation and providing them with more tools and opportunities to grow the game in their countries – from grassroots upwards.
A mark of the speed of Webb’s reforms, and the support they are receiving, can be seen in the quality speaker line-up from the rest of the football world that has been attracted to make the journey to the Cayman Islands. FIFA president Sepp Blatter will address the attendees. Other speakers include new South African FA president Dr. Danny Jordaan, (he was also CEO of the FIFA World Cup South Africa), Nic Coward, General Secretary of the English Premier League and Don Garber, Commissioner of Major League Soccer.
From the world of government The Most Honorable Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica, will also address the summit.
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