THE VALLEY, Anguilla (CMC) – Powerful FIFA president Sepp Blatter formally opened the Anguilla Football Association’s Technical Centre here Monday, urging the small British overseas territory to continue to dream big.
On the last leg of his Caribbean and his first trip to Anguilla, Blatter told an audience including the island’s British Governor Alistair Harrison, Chief Minister Hubert Hughes and Sports Minister Edison Baird that there was “no difference between the big and small associations – they are all part of the FIFA family.”
He said he refused requests from 18 countries in order to visit Anguilla – the smallest of FIFA’s 208 members – noting that FIFA saw it as their role to help educate society.
The FIFA boss commended the local FA president Raymond Guishard for his dream to have a Technical Centre which comprises a playing field with security fencing, artificial lights, offices and dressing rooms for players and officials.
He made reference to former South African President Nelson Mandela whose dream it was to have the World Cup staged in Africa for the first time.
This, Blatter reminded, had been achieved this year when the 2010 showpiece was held in South Africa.
“Dreams with the will and hope can become a reality,” he told the gathering, while praising the work of FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF chief Jack Warner.
“This dream must be treasured – the legacy must be transferred onto the field of play … we need more young Peles in Anguilla … you now have your own facility, love it and embrace it.”
Sports Minister Baird said the government and people of Anguilla were delighted Blatter had decided to visit Anguilla and said the FIFA mission was not “empty rhetoric”.
During a media briefing at the end of the ceremony, Baird said that he would be recommending to Cabinet that the US$2.5 million Technical Centre be named in honour of the local football president Raymond Guishard for his devotion to seeing the completion of the brand new football complex.
Also attending the ceremony was Harold Taylor, the former FIFA Development Officer for the Caribbean.