BFA Officials Work At CONCACAF Gold Cup
BFA President Larry Mussenden announced that a group of BFA officials have been invited to take part in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Members include Executive Member Shequita Parson, BFA General Secretary David Sabir, Executive Member Troy Lewis and BFA Treasurer Andrew Griffith. Mr Mussenden will attend the Gold Cup Final and other Gold Cup official events in Chicago next weekend.
Initially an eight-team competition, the Gold Cup finals have grown into a 12-nation competition with countries qualifying from each of CONCACAF’s three sub-regions: North America [three automatic entrants], Central America [five qualifiers through the UNCAF Copa Centroamericana] and the Caribbean [four qualifiers through the Caribbean Cup].
Mr Mussenden said, “I am pleased to announce that BFA Executive Member Shequita Parson, chair of BFA Safety & Security Committee and a local Match Commissioner, was appointed for the CONCACAF Gold Cup as a Match Commissioner to Group B consisting of Honduras, El Salvador, Trinidad & Tobago and Haiti.
“She joined the group of Match Commissioners who oversaw the preliminary rounds of the Gold Cup spanning 3 groups that were played from July 7th – 16th.
“Shequita travelled with Group B for the matches that were played in Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on July 8th, Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida on July 12th and BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas on July 16th.
“This was Shequita’s inaugural appointment in the international arena having attended the CONCACAF Match Commissioners’ Seminar in 2012 in Miami. Shequita reports that she had an awesome time and looks forward to future international appointments as well as raising the bar here at home.
“I am also pleased to announce that BFA General Secretary David Sabir was appointed as the General Coordinator for the Gold Cup opening match on July 7th at the 85,000 capacity Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Los Angeles featuring Canada vs Martinique and Mexico vs Panama.
“Sabir has also been given the high honor of being appointed General Coordinator for the Gold Cup Final at Soldier Field, Chicago on July 28th.
“As General Coordinator, he will be responsible for coordinating and planning along with the Venue Manager all CONCACAF protocols including compliance with the Gold Cup regulations by all stakeholders, stadium readiness, oversee training and match operations, team arrangements including hotel, transportation, pre event activities, supervising the venue office and staff, preparation and compilation of tournament documents, conduct all meetings of the venue including overseeing the CONCACAF Mentorship program among other responsibilities.
“Recently, David Sabir served as a FIFA Stadium Security Manger for the FIFA 2013 Confederations Cup in Brasil. He was located in Fortaleza as part of the Castelao Stadium Venue Team.
“As a FIFA Stadium Security Manager, Sabir was responsible, along with others, for the coordination of stadium security during the tense civil protests across Brasil during the Confederations Cup. Sabir reports that it was a huge honour as well as a serious commitment to work with the Brasil security services in ensuring the safety of the football spectators and the civil protestors.
“I am also pleased to announce that CONCACAF invited the BFA to send an Executive Member observer to Gold Cup matches to see how match days are organized with the aim that domestic organization is developed.
“BFA Executive Member Troy Lewis represented Bermuda and the BFA for the semi-final match held today in Baltimore. Troy travelled to Baltimore on Thursday and has been involved in the lead up organization for the semi-final.
“Additionally, Andrew Griffith, BFA Treasurer, will be attending a CONCACAF Audit Committee meeting in Chicago next weekend when he will also attend the Gold Cup Final and other Gold Cup official events.
“Andrew is a Chartered Accountant and is a member of the CONCACAF Audit Committee. He is also the chair of the Caribbean Football Union Audit Committee.
“As BFA President and chair of the CONCACAF Appeals Committee, I have been invited to attend the Gold Cup Final and other Gold Cup official events in Chicago next weekend.
“I look forward to meeting with the CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb and General Secretary Enrique Sanz, long time colleagues and friends of Bermuda football when I will extend the thanks from the people of Bermuda for appointing our BFA Executive members to the Gold Cup.
“President Webb, also President of Cayman Islands Football Association, has been very keen to ensure that Member Association officials are exposed to high level football organization with the aim that such experiences are used to develop the game at home.
“On behalf of the BFA, I am extremely excited that BFA Executive members have been appointed to work and observe the Gold Cup. This is a huge testament to the BFA and to our level of professionalism and competence.
“As I have stated before, the BFA is highly regarded by our regional and world bodies for its administration and operations, especially for such a small country. We look forward to Shequita, David, Troy and Andrew bringing home their experiences and continuing their work for the family of football in Bermuda.
“Other BFA Executive members such as Mark Wade and Anthony Francis also serve on international football committees”.
