MOU Signed to Improve Development of Football among the Youth

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the National Sports Council and the Football Federation of Belize to further the development of the sport among the youth. The official event took place this morning at the F.F.B. headquarters in Belmopan; the media tuned in virtually. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

The agreement penned between government officials and the F.F.B. will see additional focus placed on the development of football in Belize at the youth level.

Sergio Chuc

Sergio Chuc, President, F.F.B.

“We will be collaborating with the National Sports Council in developing football, specifically all around the country. We will be giving the national sports council our technical skills. We will be training coaches that are affiliated with the sports council and where we see it necessary, the F.F.B. will also be investing in the sports council’s facilities that need some sort of repair to get it up to playing standards.”

So while the M.O.U. is creating opportunities for coordinators, volunteers, coaches and referees to train and improve their skills and knowledge of football, the collaboration will see investment at both primary and secondary schools. It has the full support of the ministry of Youth Sports and e-Governance. C.E.O. Jose Urbina was on hand for the signing.

Jose Urbina

Jose Urbina, C.E.O., Ministry of Youth, Sports & e-Governance

“We believe that partnership is key to accomplishing our vision. It is not only about the strategy, but how we execute the strategy also. And we have realised that the F.F.B. has the reach into the primary schools, the reach into the secondary schools and so they are able, and in partnership with us, to promote football and educate our students and young people as to how to really play football and how to increase the skills and overall increase the skill level within our country so that our youth are able to represent our country much better than what they are doing currently.”

Signing on behalf of the National Sports Council were Chairman Linsford Castillo and Director Ian Cal.

Ian Cal

Ian Cal, Director, National Sports Council

“We have to work together. F.F.B. has to use our facilities and countrywide, we share the same concept, we share the same office spaces, per say. We have been working together throughout the years. So the M.O.U. seals that commitment to ensure that whatever facilities we have in the country, F.F.B. can use. Of course in collaboration with the national sports council where young people will be taking advantage of these programmes, these classes; the continuation of working together with the Ministry of Education when it comes to football for schools. These are all programmes that we want to engage in and the MOU sets forth and seals that commitment that we want to have in Belize.”

Duane Moody for News Five.