CFU NEWS - Havelange tours the Centre of Excellence... recommends one for Concacaf President

Havelange tours the Centre of Excellence

Issued on September 4, 2008

Former FIFA President Dr Joao Havelange says that if he had his way he would have a prized facility similar to the Centre of Excellence named in honour of Concacaf President Jack Warner for his longstanding service in world football.

Havelange made the comment during media briefing after a half hour tour of the multi-purpose Centre of Excellence facility on Thursday morning. Havelange along with is personal assistant Marcel Citherlet were given a walk through of the venue by Warner and facility CEO Ken Emrith and the Brazilian-born, at age 92, moved through briskly  and took notice of the various halls and sporting amenities including the Marvin Lee Stadium.

He also met various staff members and willingly posed for photographs, expressing his pleasure in making his first visit to Trinidad in twelve years in particular since the numerous upgrades of the facility.

Havelange told  the media that he was not surprised to see the high level of the Centre of Excellence because he knew that  with it in Warner’s hands, the FIFA Vice President would settle for nothing less. Then when asked on his thoughts on something similar in Warner’s honour, Havelange replied : “If I were still in the position of President (of FIFA) I would definitely look to the possibility of naming one in the name of Jack Warner for what he contributed to the game and its development. He deserves it. There should be one for him.”

“I am very, very surprised. I shouldn’t have been surprised knowing Jack Warner as I have – one excellent President and administrator. But everything I saw I never expected to have seen here today. This place is a benefit to Concacaf. It was the passion of Jack Warner that made this. I am very happy to have witnessed the completion of the dream of Jack Warner. I don’t believe that other Confederations can offer what Concacaf can offer to its members and all this we owe to one person – Jack Warner, his tenacity, his loyalty and also to his wish to offer to the region one Centre of this quality. I am very happy to have a friend like Jack Warner, a President as he has demonstrated. The years shall go by and we shall always applaud Jack Warner,” Havelange added

Warner expressed appreciation to Havelange for coming to share in the TTFF’s celebration of its Centennial.

“Dr Havelange is 92-years-old and the TTFF is one hundred years and the best gift he could have given us here is his presence. I want to express to him our deep thanks and appreciation. I pledge we will always honour his name, the name given to his facility by keeping it all times – The Centre of Excellence.”

Havelange is also a member of the International Olympic Committee and is currently the longest serving active member.

Warner was also at the Piarco International Airport on Thursday evening to welcome FIFA President Sepp Blatter, General Secretary Jerome Valcke, UEFA President Michel Platini and English FA Chairman Lord David Triesman who has a dual role as chairman of the FA's World Cup bid company and will head for the Caribbean after a first stop at UEFA's Super Cup in Monaco, where Manchester United played Zenit St Petersburg.
Blatter meantime, will go off to South Africa next week. South African organisers of the 2010 World Cup said on Thursday they were upbeat about his visit to "showcase" the progress made in preparing for the event.
Blatter will on September 14 begin a four-day visit to South Africa, during which he would visit World Cup facilities in the major cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town, World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) chief Danny Jordaan said.

"We have made tremendous progress and we hope to showcase this progress to him during his September 14 to 17 visit. We also hope he will be very impressed with the lot of progress we have made," Jordaan said.