By Paul Nicholson in Grand Cayman
October 22 – The landmark CONCACAF Sport Summit, titled ‘Transformation through partnership’ opened here Monday night with a powerful, at times hilarious, address by former political prisoner Tokyo Sexwale, who spent 15 years imprisoned alongside Nelson Mandela on South Africa’s Robben Island.
Speaking to an audience of CONCACAF federations, partners and 38 government ministers from across the region, the remarkable Sexwale captured the positive sense of change that has characterised this organisation in recent months, and sent a strong message of support to CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb in his role as the head of FIFA’s anti-discrimination committee.
This Gala Dinner was another watershed moment, the most high profile yet, in the confederation’s efforts to shake off the suspicion, mistrust and mismanagement of a tainted recent past. Sexwale said as much himself as he pointed to conference logo beside him, saying: “it is written on the wall – transformation.”
Such transformation has taken place in a remarkably short time through a collective will from the federations to move forward. And if the mood of those present is translated into deed — and there is no reason to doubt it — there is plenty more to come. Everyone wants a piece of this intoxicating positivity.
Sexwale’s thought-provoking speech mixed a keen sense of humour with an even keener sense of what must change in the world, and where football can lead.
“Do you realise how often we use the word play?” said Sexale. “We must protect that space around play…” He spoke of his time in prison and how football became a force in their lives which they came to rely on.
“It was one of the key activities that kept us together, body and soul… sanity everything was kept together through the power of sport, in particular football…” he said. “It enabled us to transcend political barriers amongst prisoners including cultural, linguistic, regional, ethnic differences that we had. We could all come together and forget our differences.”
“Sport has the power to change the world,” continued Sexwale. “On Robben Island we defied every apartheid rule, law, legislation, regulation, we defied each one of those laws.”
With Fifa President Sepp Blatter in the audience, Sexwale added poignantly: “But let me tell you Mr Blatter, we never defied a single FIFA statute…the rules were sacrosanct…in FIFA, in football, millions of people are controlled by a single whistle.”
Sexwale acted as the general secretary of the Makana Football Association, formed on Robben Island, an association subsequently recognised by FIFA. He also went on to become a member of the FIFA World Cup 2010 Preparatory Committee and sat on the Board of Directors for the 2010 World Cup.
While offering his support for both Webb and Blatter, Sexwale had a timely message for the former and his anti-discrimination task force. “You’ve got a job to do…If things are not achieved then tonight’s dinner is just a dinner.”
The burden of responsibility imparted so simply by these words would not have been lost.
For his part, Webb welcomed the delegates to his native Cayman Islands. “The beautiful game delights people of all creeds and backgrounds,” he said. “Football builds character, it unites nations, it instills a sense of life-long friendship, it provides discipline and team work. It induces national pride, a sense of accomplishment and generates global exposure. In its utmost complexity, it can be perceived both as an art form and as a road to hope.
“Tonight we start a journey, transformation through partnership. On this journey we will forge partnerships, along this road we will write a new chapter a new era of the game within CONCACAF…This is the first ever sports summit hosted by any federation of this kind. Tonight we start a journey of co-operation and forging a common vision for our region.”
The presentations and panel discussions today (Tuesday) will cover a broad range of topics but with a focus on engaging local partnerships with government authorities
Blatter will make the keynote address but was on hand at the dinner to make a presentation to Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin, in what turned out to be one of the most amusing moments of the evening and showed the veteran Fifa President at his brilliant best in front of an audience.
Welcomed to the Cayman Islands as a FIFA vice president, the master of ceremonies quickly apologised and corrected his title to FIFA president.
Blatter, with superb timing, took his position on stage, turned to the MC and said: “I think you are a prophet….. I think in these days we have the new president in the near future … and this president will be Jeffrey Webb.”
The roars of laughter, applause and cheers may well have echoed all the way to Europe.
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