THE BARBADOS Football Association (BFA) has teamed up with a new striking partner with the hope of scoring many goals for local soccer.
Yesterday, at its Richmonds, Welches, St Michael headquarters. the BFA signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with the Brewster Trust, to assist in infrastructural and administrative development as well as coaching and enhancements of playing areas.
BFA’s president Ronald Jones, senior vice-president Sherlock Yarde and treasurer Curtis Hunte signed on behalf of the association while its chief executive officer, German Axel Bernhardt, signed for the Brewster Trust.
Jones said the initial agreement covers the period from December 2010 to December 2013 with an annual review to ensure that the BFA was meeting its targets.
“It will be target-project base approach to funding and support. It is something that we have been hoping for. You are not only getting technical expertise, you are also getting monetary support for structures, monetary support for the organisational business of the BFA,” Jones said.
Bernhardt said the Brewster Trust, a charitable organisation based in Trents, St James, was set up to promote, develop and improve football and the structures in Barbados with the aim of creating opportunities, particularly for the youth while rendering assistance to coaches and referees.
He said the quality of the leaders, discipline, fair play, respect and facilities are very important issues in making the partnership with the BFA a success.
“The first step will be a strategic plan which we have prepared to help them (BFA) to develop, dedicated pitches, structures, the web portal through special agreements on those projects,” he said.
“We want to have an eye on it, to take part in the project and this is the reason why we go for several and separate agreements later on, and this hopefully will start with the general secretary from the BFA which we expect to be presenting some work in the first half of 2011,” Bernhardt said.
“From this strategy, you then can develop several programmes, projects and concepts to support and then we also can use the finances behind it,” he added.
Bernhardt said the scholarship opportunities and club attachments will also be sought for young footballers.
“If you start an enterprise, for me with the BFA, you need first a strategic report for a medium-term strategy, that is the most important. That is what we feel and this is what we will do in the next month, to develop a centre and then we have to execute.”
Jones did not disclosed the total worth of the partnership with the Brewster Trust but said the football fraternity would be kept abreast of developments.
“At the end of the first year, we will be able to share with you what has been the quantum expended by the Brewster Trust and we will give you annual updates…We’ve kept the MOU flexible to accommodate various across themes as we go forward,” Jones said.