PANAMA CITY, Panama — Jamaica’s football boss Captain Horace Burrell will be elected unopposed as a vice-president of CONCACAF when the sub-continental body hosts its 38th Ordinary Congress here today where a wide range of critical issues will be deliberated by the membership.

“I am a diligent servant of football, therefore I am always ready to offer myself, and the confidence placed in me by colleagues is one I intend to repay with the usual hard work and commitment as we look to move the confederation forward and put it on a springboard for greater success,” said the president of the Jamaica Football Federation.

FIFA president Joseph ‘Sepp’ Blatter is expected to address the gathering this morning, so too CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands.

Some of what are expected on the plate are issues related to competitions, development, corporate, technical, sponsorship, governance, elections of officers and a matter to deal with membership.

Mexican Football Federation president Justino Campean, in a fiery address to the CFU session yesterday, hinted that more will be said about the CONCACAF of the past in what is clear to be a congress of many burning issues at the Westin Playa Bonita resort, just on the outskirts of the city.

CONCACAF, the body that embraces the football playing regions of North and Central America and the Caribbean, is also down to have advanced review of the applications of protectorate states Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin and French Guiana to become full members.

“We are very pleased with the passion, commitment and resilience that have been expressed by the four islands, and we intend to welcome them into our football family,” said Webb. “In the best interest of the game and of developing the region, these countries can rest assured that they have CONCACAF’s full support,” he added.

The four are seeking to become full members of the Confederation, “with all rights and privileges, which would allow them, among other things, to participate in official regional and international competitions”. Those will be ratified today.

Meanwhile, CONCACAF has revealed a list of candidates who will run for positions on the CONCACAF Executive Committee for the term 2013-2017, and the FIFA Executive Committee for the same period.

US Soccer president Sunil Gulati faces opposition as he contests two posts. He is vying for the FIFA Executive Committee member from North America and he’s up against the free-speaking Mexican Compeán, and he goes up against Canada’s Victor Montagliani for the CONCACAF Executive Committee member from North America.

The other categories are that are unopposed are FIFA Executive Committee member from the Caribbean, Jeffrey Webb, CONCACAF Executive Committee vice-president from Central America, Honduras’ Alfredo Hawit; CONCACAF Executive Committee vice-president from the Caribbean, Jamaica’s Burrell; CONCACAF Executive Committee member from Central America, Eduardo Li (Costa Rica); and CONCACAF Executive Committee member from the Caribbean, Luis Hernandez (Cuba),

Meanwhile, Blatter, secretary general Jerome Valcke and Webb were busy yesterday attending a FIFA Goal Project event before visiting with Panama president Ricardo Martenelli.

The group was also due to attend a function last night to induct four football stalwarts into the CONCACAF Hall of Fame, including Jamaican Lincoln ‘Happy’ Sutherland.

Also, hosts Panama, along with Mexico will meet in the final of the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship here this evening. Honduras and Canada will contest the third-place play-off match in the curtain-raiser.

Panama booked their spot in the final with a 2-1 win over Canada at Estadio Rommel Fernandez on Wednesday night, and Mexico progressed after a sound 3-1 win over Honduras earlier.

All four teams have qualified for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup to be staged in the United Arab Emirates in October.

Jamaica were eliminated 4-2 by Canada in the quarter-final