KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Newly installed CONCACAF president Jeff Webb says bringing international stars to the Caribbean is high on his list of priorities over the next few months. Webb, who was elected unopposed to serve the term left vacant by the resignation of Trinidadian Jack Warner last month at the FIFA Congress in Budapest, said it was important for the growth and development of young regional footballers that they interacted with those who had made it to the top of the sport.
“Which child wouldn’t want to see Lionel Messi in the flesh? Seeing these superstars gives confidence and the will to know ‘I too can be great, I too can achieve greatness’,” Webb said.
“This is our new mandate at CONCACAF; helping young footballers believe in their abilities and achieve greatness. We are focusing on the game and its players, not the politics.”
He is currently deputy Chairman of FIFA’s Internal Audit Committee and also sits on the FIFA Transparency and Compliance Committee.
Webb is also chairman of CONCACAF’s Youth Committee and carried out duties as chairman of the Caribbean Football Union’s Normalisation Committee to oversee the turbulent period in regional football following the cash-for-votes scandal last year and has since been voted onto FIFA’s powerful Executive Committee.
Webb made the rounds earlier this month in his new role, as he witnessed several qualifying matches in the 2014 World Cup campaign.
He was particularly confident about Jamaica Reggae Boyz’ campaign after they opened with an impressive 2-1 win over Guatemala at the National Stadium in Kingston.
“We know Jamaicans love their football and … to see the energy and excitement from the crowd about their team’s 2014 World Cup campaign was encouraging,” Webb said.
“Jamaicans are optimistic of their team’s success and speaking to Captain (Horace) Burrell he too is enthusiastic for this team’s chances under coach (Theodore) Whitmore.”
Jamaica was the first team from the Caribbean to qualify for a World Cup finals after reaching the 1998 Finals. Since then, Trinidad and Tobago qualified for the 2006 showpiece in Germany.