F.F.B.’s annual honorary congress and its new marketing development program

Three members of CONCACAF’s Marketing Development Program are here in Belize for a three-day working visit. While in Belize, the trio will be assessing and assisting in creating a marketing plan for the F.F.B. goals and strategies. But the visit is occurring simultaneously with the federation’s annual honorary congress which will be held on Saturday. The event’s purpose is to provide a report to F.F.B. affiliates on the activities previously done and for the upcoming plans for the year 2013.

Marlon Kuylen, Executive Member, F.F.B.

“We give our report to our affiliates of the activities that were done the previous year and what we intend to do the coming year. And we also give them the financials and the budget for the coming year.”

Duane Moody

“Tell us about the representatives that you have from UNCAF and CONCACAF.”

Marlon Kuylen

“Well the president of UNCAF, Rafael Tinoco is here as well as the general secretary of CONCACAF, Enrique Sans. They came in today. So we are hosting them; we are having a cocktail and dinner for them tonight.”

Duane Moody

“What is it that we can expect in your reports for tomorrow?”

Marlon Kuylen

Marlon Kuylen

“Well good things. As you have seen, we have done a lot in the past year; we’ve accomplished more than what the past administration has done in a short space of time. Also visiting us right now are three representatives from FIFA that are a team from the Marketing Development Program. Since the CONCACAF president, Jeffrey Webb took office or became president last year, he has embarked on a marketing program whereby he is trying to have all member association become self-sustainable and become stronger. So a team is here and I am glad to report that Belize is the pilot project; this is the first country that these people are visiting. And so they are here to assess our marketing goals and strategies and showing us how to enhance and capitalize on the opportunities that we currently have.”

Duane Moody

“Okay, so moving forward…I know you said that you’re also going to put forward your proposals for this coming year. What are some of those goals that you guys intend to meet of course notwithstanding the fact that you have Gold Cup coming up?”

Marlon Kuylen

“Well our biggest focus on the short-term is the Gold Cup. We need to raise some funds. We intend to have this month, April twenty-seventh; we hope to have a telethon. On the long-term we will begin certifying coaches.  We are embarking on the coach’s certification, we will continue with the referees improvements also and then we will be rolling out the grass roots project and as well we want to restructure the league to make it more sustainable and stronger and get more fans in the stadium.”

The federation is currently looking for a marketing manager.