BURRELL
FORMER JAMAICA Football Federation (JFF) president Captain Horace Burrell, who is also the vice-president of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), has been appointed by the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) to conduct a marketing seminar in Zambia, as part of the FIFA Com-Unity programme.
FIFA is solidifying its support of Zambia's football as in the mid-'90s the entire team was wiped out in a tragic plane crash. Hence, the Zambians are embarking on a massive campaign to develop its football and galvanise support for their qualification to the 2010 World Cup Finals, which will be held in South Africa.
"It is indeed a very special honour and a privilege for me to be called upon to play a part in helping to improve the standard of football in Zambia," Captain Burrell was quoted as saying in a release.
Captain Burrell, who as JFF head led a delegation with the Reggae Boyz to the African state where it played that nation in practice matches leading up to its historic France '98 World Cup qualification, also spoke of the reception they got at that time.
He said: "The people of Zambia hold a special place in my heart for their warmth and exuberance in receiving our Jamaica team in 1996 when we arrived at Lusaka International (airport) for a friendly international.
"A large crowd gathered and chanted 'Reggae Boyz! Reggae Boyz!', which became a known international brand leading up to and beyond the France 1998 World Cup Finals," added Captain Burrell, under whose stewardship Jamaica qualified for its only World Cup football Finals - France 1998, Under-17s in New Zealand in 1999 and the Under-20s in Argentina 2001.
The FIFA seminar will run for three days from May 8 - 10 and other participating officials will include a three-man delegation from FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, as well as the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Zambian Government and private sector companies.
At the close of the seminar, Captain Burrell will head to Trinidad and Tobago on May 11 to attend a special farewell dinner for the twin-island republic's Soca Warriors, prior to their departure for World Cup, Germany 2006. All 30 member countries of the CFU will be represented at the dinner.
Trinidad and Tobago are the second English-speaking Carib-bean nation to qualify for FIFA's World Cup finals. The Reggae Boyz were the first.
