Warner, who was first elected to the Executive Committee in 1983, will retain his post as FIFA vice president and act as CONCACAF’s Caribbean representative until 2013.  Blazer will return to his post as the representative from North America, a position he has held since 1996. 

Captain Horace Burrell, Sunil Gulati and Vice President Alfredo Hawit also were re-elected to the CONCACAF Executive Committee.  Hawit, the general secretary of the Honduran soccer federation, and U.S. federation President Gulati ran unopposed for their posts representing their respective Central American and North American zones.  Jamaica’s Burrell had been challenged for his post representing the Caribbean by Peter Jenkins of St. Kitts and Nevis, who withdrew prior to the Congress.

CONCACAF also formally inducted Clive Toye, Anthony James and Julio Rocha into the confederation’s Hall of Fame at the congress.  The three, chosen by the CONCACAF Executive Committee, were recognized for their extraordinary contributions to the game and region. 

Toye, originally a sports writer from England, came to the United States to be a part of the North American Soccer League and since has been a fundamental part of the development of the game in his adopted country of the United States.   He began as general manager of the Baltimore Bays before becoming general manager (1971-976) and then president (1976-77) of the famed New York Cosmos, where he brought Pele out of retirement to come play for three years.  Toye joined CONCACAF as a senior consultant in 1998 and was also inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003.

James, was president of the Jamaican Football Federation from 1985-1992 as well serving on the Executive Committees for CONCACAF and the Caribbean Football Union.  He currently serves on the Organizing Committee for the FIFA U-17 World Cup and is an active match commissioner for FIFA and CONCACAF.

Rocha has been associated with football for almost 40 years beginning as a player with Diriangen FC and the Nicaraguan national team in the 1960s.  He was appointed general secretary of the Nicaraguan federation in 1988 and two years later became president. He also served as president of the Central American Football Union (UNCAF) from 2003-2007 and now serves as a member of the FIFA Associations Committee and sports administration instructor and match commissioner for the world body and CONCACAF. He received the FIFA Centennial Order of Merit in 2004.

“Today was an extremely positive day for CONCACAF,” CONCACAF President Jack Warner said.  “Our Congress allows us to come together as a confederation and continue to work together to strengthen the game in our region. In addition to re-electing three members of the Executive Committee, we were able to honor our three new Hall of Fame inductees who have helped to make CONCACAF what it is today.”

CONCACAF members were given presentations on a number of key developments within the last year.  The associations were brief on the opening of a new CONCACAF office in Miami and the expansion of its office in Guatemala City, as well as a referee program in conjunction with FIFA _ the Referee Assistance Program or “RAP”.  The program will specialize in offering referee instructor courses throughout the region.

Much of the presentation centered on strategic developments, focusing on technology including a new football training program.  CONCACAF is developing an extensive library of online advanced material that will be available in a variety of languages and free of charge to coaches and players worldwide.

The members also were shown a peek inside CONCACAF’s new medical training program entitled “CONCACAF Winner’s Health.”  The initiative is designed to provide football-relevant support on medical issues through internet-based videos.  The unique program will help doctors, trainers, coaches, parents and players improve their knowledge on medical issues relevant to their respective roles in football.

Additionally, members saw an extensive presentation detailing the success of the inaugural edition of the CONCACAF Champions League. CONCACAF’s club championship featured 24 teams and a total of 77 matches over 10 months. Atlante of Mexico won the inaugural edition in early May.

Lastly, members were given an update as to the planning of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.  The region’s preeminent national team championship will take place from July 3-26 in an historic 13 venues across the United States.   Members were given insight into detailed preparations necessary for the 12-team tournament.