Jack pleased with Digicel Cup
Monday, January 22 2007
FIFA vice president Jack Warner has labelled the Digicel Caribbean Cup a success and has praised authorities for a well organised tournament.
?We couldn?t have hoped for a better competition and I want to thank Digicel for their commitment and efforts throughout the entire period,? Warner said from his CONCACAF office on Friday.
?The quality of the organisation and the promotion of the event itself has been of a high standard. In the past we had four teams, now we have eight in the Finals and with this we have shown that we can handle more teams and more football,? he said.
?What I think is interesting is that we now have the best four teams in the Caribbean going through to the CONCACAF Gold Cup and they will be playing for some handsome cash awards, not just at the Gold Cup but also in this Caribbean Cup, all thanks to Digicel,? Warner said.
Warner, also the CONCACAF and Caribbean Football Union president, pointed to the development that had taken place in the competition, noting that the increase in teams was a positive sign.
He also noted that the tournament would create professional opportunities for players.
?The fact is that we now have Guadeloupe playing in the Gold Cup for the first time and again that is a credit to Caribbean football,? Warner said.
?We have one English-speaking team, two French teams and one Spanish team.
Then of course we also have players attracting MLS interest, one from Joe Public too, and there will be others to follow as they are being looked at by scouts from Mexico and the US, who have been sitting in the stands watching Caribbean football.
?And not to forget Europe and other parts who have seen the football on their television screens and will be requesting more footage,? he said.
Hosts TT clash with Haiti in the final tomorrow.