FIFA official, Harold Taylor, right, with BVIFA president Franka Pickering to his right and other executive members. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

TORTOLA—The British Virgin Islands Football Association executive committee, hosted FIFA official Harold Taylor and his secretary Mariana Lee, in a weekend retreat.

Taylor, who is the FIFA Development Officer for the CONCACAF region, presided over the association’s recent elections. He said Saturday’s retreat went well. “I thought it was important to comeback and have this retreat so that they understand how FIFA operates, what we have available for them and how we expect them to take football forward in the BVI,” Taylor explained. “From the feedback I got and the questions they asked, I think they understand now very well how they have to operate.”

Taylor said he will keep in contact to ensure the body is doing as expected and follow up on the suggestions so that the retreat won’t be in vain. He said the sport must be played in the BVI and he visited a ground that isn’t very good, but, they have to begin organizing competitions. “You cannot be in a football association and only in Virgin Gorda something happens I gather,” he said. “They have to organize themselves to have some kind of football competition on Tortola.”

Taylor also emphasized proper record keeping so that annual audits can be completed and documents are not lost. The secretariat he said has to ensure there’s a record of receipts and expenditures. Taylor said the secretariat must be organized to handle the programs that are being planned and various scheduled of competitions. “It’s important that they have a very good secretariat,” he said.

Association president Franka Pickering said she was happy with how things went. She said she was happy to see FIFA will be working towards project hope, working for poverty, health and other things within the community. Pickering said several committees will be established and there will be a focus on youth.  

Just prior to Taylor’s visit, the executive announced plans for a Youth Football League to begin in the fall. The change in this league that was previously held during the spring is because of plans for a clinic to be held during the summer in different villages throughout the BVI, to prepare players for the fall league.

 Venues for the summer camp will include Capoons Bay, Sea Cows Bay, Road Town, Greenland and Virgin Gorda.