For Immediate Release
March 30th, 2005

Cayman, Brazil Exchangea Go
by Kenisha Morgan

The first in a series of player exchanges between the Cayman Islands Football Association and the professional Brazilian football club C.R. Vasco Da Gama has taken place.

At a recent press conference CIFA President Jeffrey Webb officially welcomed 18-year-old Diego Brandão to the Cayman Islands.

“We are very pleased to have Diego with us as the first exchage player from Vasco da Gama. I personally take this opportunity to welcome him to the Cayman Islands as I’m sure that for Diego this will be a very memorable trip both culturally and sports wise,” said CIFA President Jeffrey Webb.  Mr. Webb was upbeat on what this Brazil-Cayman exchange means for local football development and pointed out that in addition to the three young players who went to Brazil last year, two local district coaches will travel to that South American country for a training stint by mid-year. The coaches are  Ernie “Gillie” Seymour of  George Town and Roy “Hutah” Ebanks of West Bay. “The presence here of Brazillian footballers while our players and officials visit that country, means that the Cayman football community has mutiple opportunities to learn from the experiences of that great footballing nation,” Mr Webb said. 

The Footbal Association hopes to continue with the exchange in the approching 2005-2006 football season set for kick-off in mid September.

Dr. The Hon. Frank McField, Minister of Community Services, Youth , Sports and Gender Affairs who was also present thought the exchange was a wonderful facilitator for the onward athletic, cultural and social development of Cayman’s youth. “This fits very much into the Ministry’s mission,” said a very enthused Dr. McField  “...and will be a great incentive to create the kind of competition which we need between the players to compete for a spot on the cultural exchange agenda.” He lauded the Football Association for initiating the endeavour and encouraged them to expand it beyond its current scope.

Diego Brandão, a defender, played with Grêmio Football Club in 2000 and São Paulo Football Club in 2001 but moved to Clube de Regatas Vasco da Gama in Rio de Janeiro and has been there since 2002. During that time Diego played against Panama’s National Under 20 football team, as well as Verdy Kawasaki from Japan and college teams out of the USA. For Brandão this is his second training exchange away from home. In 1999 he trained for three months with Saudia Arabian football club Al Wahda in Mecca.

While here Diego Brandão will participate in the CIFA Foster’s National Football League as a member of the East End Football Club.

Diego’s entry as an exchange player in East End marks another punctiation point in the development of football in Cayman’s districts. CIFA President Jeffrey Webb recalled that two years ago the only young people playing football in East End were Primary School children. He then approched Minister of Sports Dr. Frank McField with a request for funding to provide coaches and a coaching program in that district, and the Minister agreed. “Since then there has been a complete transformation of football in East End,” said a very satisfied Mr. Webb. Today that district boasts over a hundred young players in six divisions. Added to that they now have a professional young player joining their ranks.

So far Diego thinks that the Cayman Islands are a very beautiful country and says it reminds him much of home. He also added that playing in Cayman will give him good international experience, help him improve his spoken English and expose him to a new and different culture.

For more information on CIFA matches check the press or log on to www.caymanfootball.ky .

Diego Brandão, exchange player from Clube de Regatas Vasco da Gama in Brazil, poses for a picture but shows phyical exhaustion after a friendly match at the Vasco Barra Training Centre in Rio de Janeiro. Last July (2004) CIFA sent three young Caymanian players - Jario Sanchez, Joseph Tatum, and Gabriel Godet to Brazil for 45 days as part of a player exchange agreement with Brazilian football club C. R. Vasco da Gama.

Vasco exchange player Diego Brandão (center) presents a CR Vasco da Gama jersey to Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. The Hon. Frank McField (left) while CIFA President Jeffrey Webb looks on. (Picture credit: Kenisha Morgan)

Dr. the Hon. Frank McField, Minister of Youth and Sports (center) in discussion with CIFA President Jeffrey Webb (left), Marcos Tinoco, National Technical Director (2nd left) and Vasco da Gama exchange player Diego Brandão (right) following a recent press conference welcoming the player to Cayman. (Picture credit: Kenisha Morgan)