Background to the Cayman Centre for Excellence

The Cayman Centre for Excellence is the Cayman Islands Football Association’s vision for the further development of football in the Caribbean with an emphasis on bringing world-class facilities to the youth of the Cayman Islands, and exposing our young players and national teams to some of the best sides in International football. 

With a temperate year-round climate and only a 75 minute flight from mainland USA, the Cayman Islands is perfectly positioned to become one of the leading destinations for sports tourism.  With internationally renowned beaches, friendly Caribbean hospitality and world-class amenities, the Cayman Islands is already recognized as one of the Caribbean’s premier destinations.  With a 17 acre site in the heart of Grand Cayman offering site world-class training facilities in a fully self-contained site, The Cayman Centre for Excellence will only enhance the appeal of these tranquil islands. The Cayman Centre for Excellence has the potential to become the leading Caribbean facility for football development.  The completed project will include three international playing fields which can be converted into six youth pitches, fully catered on-site dormitories for up to 30 visiting players and staff, education and physical training facilities, a board room, office space and a friendly and professional staff that will be the rival of any facility in the region.  The project is currently 30% completed, with the whole scope of facilities expected to be operational in 2012. 

In July 2009, the Cayman Centre for Excellence became the permanent home of the Cayman Islands Football Association, with all operations moving to the new “Home of CIFA,” an administrative centre that is set to become the hub of football in the Cayman Islands and the heart of the Cayman Centre for Excellence.  The “Home of CIFA” was opened in June 2009 by FIFA President Joseph Blatter, in a grand ceremony attended by high profile regional and international friends of Cayman football, including CONCACAF President and FIFA Vice President Jack Warner, FIFA Vice President Geoff Thompson, FIFA Deputy General Secretary Markus Kattner, and His Excellency the Governor of the Cayman Islands, Mr. Stuart Jack, CVO. 

Work also began in June 2009 on the first of three international playing fields.  The field is expected to be available for use in local youth leagues in early 2010, and will be used for the 2010 Cayman Classic, among other local and international youth tournaments.  Once the site is complete, we anticipate hosting several international youth competitions at the Cayman Centre for Excellence on a yearly basis, with teams accommodated either at the on-site dormitories, or at  the world-class hotels and resorts on the famous Seven Mile Beach, a 15 minute drive away. 

The Cayman Centre for Excellence is not just for international visitors, however.  In partnership with the Cayman Islands Government, the Cayman Centre forExcellence will not only develop the technical football skills of Cayman’syoung players, but will help further their personal growth from young players with the world at their feet into responsible and mature adults.  Through the creation of local football programs to be held at the facility, an invitation to attend the Cayman Centre forExcellence is to be seen not only as a demonstration of CIFA’s confidence in their ability as a footballer, but also as a sign of respect for them as a person.  As such, all players involved will be required to wear special uniforms to identify them as developing Academy members.

 We are indebted to both the FIFA Goal Bureau and the Cayman Islands Government for their assistance in getting the Cayman Centre for Excellence under development, and would like to recognize the roles of former Minister for Sports, Alden McLaughlin Jr., FIFA Development Manager Gregory Engelbrecht and FIFA Development Officer Harold Taylor for all their assistance in helping us realize our vision. 

We are confident that the Cayman Centre for Excellence will become the crown jewel in the Cayman Islands’ sporting life, opening up access to an entire industry and cementing our reputation on the world stage.   We look forward to sharing this journey with you.