Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA) President Lyndon Cooper is now President of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).
Cooper was elected CFU president at the organization’s 48th Ordinary Congress at Royalton Hotel in Cap Estate, Saint Lucia, on Sunday.
Cooper, who served as vice president of the CFU Executive Committee since 2012, was elected by acclamation under the CFU Statutes. He pledged to find consensus among the 31 members of the CFU and committed to continued collegiality with FIFA and the One CONCACAF philosophy.
“We have-and will continue-to add value to the membership with our initiatives and by working with CONCACAF, FIFA, and all our stakeholders,” Cooper declared, during his acceptance remarks.
The incoming CFU President added: “This spirit of continued collaboration will be one of the hallmarks of my leadership. I trust that you understand that by doing so, we are pooling our power rather than ceding it.”
He called for sustained harmony and for the membership to use football to unite across the English, Dutch, French, and Spanish-speaking unions.
“As I accept this presidency, I charge all of us to use football as a tool to unite, dismantle barriers to development, and build bridges and alliances,” he said.
Also taking place during the weekend was the 40th Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Congress.
On Monday, Sports Minister Kenson Casimir said that among the high-powered delegates to Saint Lucia, FIFA President Gianni Infantino was “immensely impressed with Saint Lucia, (and) not just the beauty of the island, but the organisation of the conference; the logistics, the hotel accommodations and the collaboration between the SLFA and the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports and the Ministry of Tourism.”
Hon Casimir went on to say, the FIFA President emphasised that “Saint Lucia continues to punch above its weight” in sports development in the region and globally.
The Sports Minister said that “This is another ‘feather in our cap’ as Saint Lucia continues to be considered as the premiere and fastest growing sports destination in the region.”
Casimir recalls the island’s “tremendous success” over the past year, notably with Julien Alfred’s historic gold medal feat at the Paris Olympic Games; and including Saint Lucia’s hosting of matches during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and “now hosting another event on the global stage- the CONCACAF Congress.”
Reflecting on the Congress, the Sports Minister highlighted that one of the major ‘cut aways’ from the session was the focus on Saint Lucia’s Semi-Professional Football League [SPFL].
He said some of the more developed footballing countries, like Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and others pledged to support Saint Lucia in its quest to develop the sport of football on the island.
In keeping with the sports policy of assisting players to get gear and equipment to harness their skills, Casmir stated, “We are looking to follow through and see how much we can get…and we always ask for more footballs. I look forward to seeing the day when every young single primary school footballer has access to a football.”
The Sports Minister also acknowledged the appointment of Cooper as the newly elected CFU President, stating “It’s another indication that we do have the capabilities in Saint Lucia, to be leaders…and it speaks volumes when the president of a regional body comes from Saint Lucia.”