This afternoon, representatives of the National Sports Council and the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and E-Governance visited the Belmopan headquarters of the Football Federation of Belize.
They were there to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the FFB for the further development of football. In this MOU, the two sides are formalizing a relationship that they have shared where the Federation makes use of the football facilities around the country.
Those are managed and operated by the National Sports Council, and in exchange, the FFB will offer technical assistance to the Government. Where possible, the Federation will also make investments for improvements on those facilities.
With video provided by the FFB's public relations team, here's what representatives of the two sides had to say about this MOU and the strengthening of their relationship:
Ian Cal, Director, National Sports Council
"We decided to engage together with FFB on a collaborative effort to sign an MOU which will see a continuation of the partnership that FFB has always have withe the national sports council. We believe that as a mandate at the national sports council being that we are mandated with all the disciplines in this country and FFB being mandated when it comes to football, we have to see the continued development of football in this country. FFB's mandate is to ensure that young people are engage in football and play and being that we belong to the ministry of youth, sports and e-governance at the same time, we believe that it is something important that we must move forward to together in the development of this discipline. FFB have to use our facilities and countrywide we share the same concept, we share the same office spaces per say, so we have been working together throughout the years, so the MOU seals that commitment to ensure that whatever facilities we have in the country FFB can use, of course in collaboration with the national sports council where young people will be meeting in advance of these programs, these classes - the continuation of working together with the ministry of education when it comes to football for schools. These are all programs that we want to engage on and the MOU sets forth and seeks those commitments that we want to have in Belize."
Sergio Chuc, President, FFB
"FFB saw it fit to pen this legal document a memorandum of understanding where we will be collaborating with the national sports council in developing football in specific 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 FFB will also be investing in the sports council facilities that need some sort of repair to get it up to playing standards, so it's a mutual collaboration where we could see both organization benefitting tremendously."
Jose Urbina, CEO, Ministry of Youth, Sports and E-Governance
"It is important for the national sports council and for us as a ministry of youth, sports to sign the MOU, because we believe that partnership is key and partnership is key to accomplishing our vision. It is not only about the strategy, but how we execute that strategy also and we have realized that the FFB has the
reach into the primary schools, into the secondary schools so that 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, 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."
If the 2 parties don't exit the agreement early through mutual agreement, it will last up until January 30th, 2050.
