October 22, 2003
CIFA Strikes GOAL - Football Academy Receives FIFA Funding!

The Cayman Islands are approved by FIFA to receive USD 400 thousand for the first phase of the construction of the Football Academy.

The Goal Bureau met in Doha, Qatar on 15 October under the chairmanship of Mohamed Bin Hammam (Qatar) and in the presence of FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. During this meeting, the Bureau approved or confirmed 25 new projects, at a total cost of USD 10 million, for FIFA's Goal development program. This brings the total number of approved projects to 160 in 157 countries around the world. So far, 54 of these projects have been completed. "We can be satisfied with the work we have done so far, but we can still do better," declared Mohamed Bin Hammam. "The Goal Bureau will therefore propose a number of measures to the Congress in order to improve development possibilities for the national associations."

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter created the Goal Program to support the national associations. It was ratified at the 1999 Extraordinary FIFA Congress in Los Angeles. Goal projects are tailor-made to meet the needs and priorities of the respective national associations and include the following: construction and renovation of national association headquarters to ensure independent administrations; construction and renovation of technical centers for national teams of all age levels; courses for trainers and referees; football development programs; laying of all-weather artificial turf pitches and natural grass pitches that help to improve the quality and quantity of pitches at national and regional level; construction and renovation of football academies to boost football development at youth level; educational programs.

CIFA President, Jeffrey Webb said, "This is a great achievement and opportunity for the Cayman Islands. We are extremely grateful to FIFA for taking such an interest in our development of our young people. The Football Academy when completed will comprise of dormitories, three football fields and administration offices. This project has been in the works for the last three years and it is very exciting to finally see it coming to reality. We would like to thank the Government, our sponsors and all involved for helping to make the first phase of this dream a reality."

Shown in photo (l - r) are Chairman of FIFA Goal Bureau Mohamed Bin Hammam,
CIFA President Jeffrey Webb and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter