Will FFB’s Financial Status Improve in the Near Future?

So will we see concrete big changes in football coming out of Infantino’s election as President? The F.F.B. has suffered from chronic empty pocket syndrome which has affected its ability to take football to the next level, or really any level of note. It’s long been said that the Federation needs to source talent at a very early age and nurture it through to the professional level. The intent has always been there, but the finance hasn’t. Will that change anytime soon?

Ruperto Vicente, President, Football Federation of Belize

Ruperto Vicente

“One of the things that had been approved for Belize even before this election is the development of regional centers for Belize. It means that we will have a regional center somewhere between Stann Creek and the Toledo District. We will have one somewhere between Corozal and Orange Walk. We will have one in the Belize District. This here, the Federation’s headquarters will serve for Belmopan and the Cayo/San Ignacio area. What will happen is that we will identify the youth talent in every district and those youths from ages 12 to 20 will be trained at those facilities. Also it means that FIFA has approved facilities for us where we will be able to train the best football players in this country. In terms of youth development, identifying them, it means that we will have to invest more in training coaches that will train youth. And so that has been approved for Belize as well, and this new President comes in adding a little bit more to that. Because while finances are available, he is going to add more finance to youth development in Belize.”

Reporter

“Will it be enough? We have seen the problems in bringing our national team together to play internationally. The money is never enough. Do you foresee a time when the money is enough to do what you have to do, to bring in youths, bring them in from the age of 12, identify the talent and keep them together until they can play and represent Belize?”

Ruperto Vicente

“There can never be enough money to invest in our youth. And I believe that we have to do more, and we have to invest more in our youth. There will never be enough monies. I would want for us to better invest in our youth. Annually we would need between two to three million dollars to do what we would really want to do for our youth. For now, we are doing what we can. When more funding comes in we will channel it into youth development. That is what I am committed to and that is what I will do for my country.”