Yesterday, the Football Federation of Belize celebrated a critical moment for the continued expansion of its main Headquarters in Belmopan City. Through a negotiated deal with RECONDEV, the leadership of the FFB purchased nineteen acres of land behind the FFB's Administration building and its dormitories.
The FFB purchased those 19 acres of land using the FIFA Forward Funds. At yesterday's signing, the Federation's general secretary outlined the use that the FFB has planned for additional development space:
Earl Jones, General Secretary, FFB
"A few years ago, we embarked upon the continuous development of the FFB facility here in Belmopan. We went ahead and had the opportunity to develop a new turf, a FIFA - which is a world class turf. We also went ahead and we, with the aid of FIFA Forward Funds, to develop a bleacher project. We renovated the bleachers that we have there, today that is completed. We continue to look at ways of using the FIFA Forward Funds to continue to develop our facility and football in Belize. We approach FIFA for the use of the funds and conditioned upon the development and upon the money that will be extended upon the projects, FIFA required that we look into ownership of property or some long term lease that will guarantee the investment. When we looked into the situation at FFB, we were on the perception that they had two passes of land here under lease. With all surprised after discussing it with RECONDEV, we found out that one is under a proper lease and the other one for 99 years was never formally documented at the lands department. So, that lease was later rescinded. We further sat down with the RECONDEV office and we tried to find ways in which we can move forward, because FIFA would not release the funds unless we had proper documentation for the property. We discussed with RECONDEV and the discussion led us into an offer which we later approached FIFA and that offer was accepted. Today, we are at the process now of purchasing the entire 2 passes of land to the back which about 19.3 acres of land at a cost of about $903,000 BZD. To us, this investment is for the future of football."
We turn now to the comments of the FFB President, Sergio Chuc, who told the attendees that his organization would prefer to spend the nine hundred thousand dollars being used on this purchase to build football facilities in other communities within the country. Here are those remarks:
Sergio Chuc, President FFB
"One of the key aspects of the executive of the football federation of Belize is to leave some sort of legacy for this group when demit office in the near future. As we continue developing the master plan for the football generation, we are going to see the entire property in the next 4-5 years, we realized that we did not have the back portion of the land under any proper documented lease. That is when FIFA said, 'well you need to have proper title for the land in order to continue to investment, we cannot continue investing in a property which is not secured'. The discussion started with the RECONDEV, the Reconstruction and Development Corporation. It took a while, but we are here today and we are happy with the price we're paying, a little over $900,000. Of course, we'd have preferred to build two complete synthetic pitches in Orange Walk that my good friend the Mayor is here who is the chairman of the Orange Walk FA and possibly one down south or in the City. We have to secure the property and it cost a lot more money than that. Today I want to give my thanks on behalf of the federation to RECONDEV."
Brian Mira, Chairman, RECONDEV
"We are glad that we could help the FFB and the football community in the entire country."
The Federation aims to have a master plan for the additional facilities, which will be built on these now-private lands. They make the point that this purchase was vital because it unlocks future growth and development of the sport by allowing more development facilities to be constructed.
