Warner: Women’s game on move in region
AUSTIN ‘Jack’ Warner says Women’s football in CONCACAF will remain “a force to be reckoned with on the world stage”.
Warner, the CONCACAF president, was spurred to make the remark following Monday’s final of the Confederation’s qualifying tournament for the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany.
“I would like to congratulate all the teams of this qualification tournament for showing us that CONCACAF will continue to be a giant in women’s football,” he noted at the prize-giving ceremony that followed the game.
In the final between Mexico and Canada in the Mexican resort town of Cancun, the North Americans clipped the hosts, 1-0, which ensured automatic qualification for both.
Earlier on Monday, the US kept their World Cup dreams alive by beating Costa Rica 3-0 in the third-place game, but have to face Italy in a two-way play-off in late November for them to become the third CONCACAF team to advance to next year’s championship.
“This final was one of the best football games I have ever seen. I would like to commend both teams on a battle well fought. The flair, the excitement, the drive and the level of skill displayed in the women’s game is truly mind blowing,” said Warner, who is also a vice-president of the world governing body of football, FIFA.
“Four years ago, it was a given that Canada and the USA would automatically qualify for any Women’s tournament; they are considered to be giants in Women’s football, and rightfully so.
“Now, other teams in the CONCACAF region are following this path. I would like to commend Mexico on their qualification for the 2011 Women’s World Cup,” the Trinidadian added.
Warner said Trinidad and Tobago’s hosting of the U-17 Women’s World Cup recently demonstrated that the Women game across all sepheres of the Confederation is on the up and up.
“We showed the world we can host, now our next challenge is to show the world that we can claim the coveted trophy of a Women’s world Cup,” Warner said.