HAVANA, Cuba (CMC) — CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb has praised Cuban football which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2011.

Webb has ended a visit to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation as part of a delegation which included FIFA President Joseph Blatter, and FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke.

The Cubans, who are no strangers to the qualifying for the prestigious Gold Cup, celebrated their first Caribbean Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in Antigua last December.

“The progress of Cuban football on and off the field has been remarkable,” said Webb.

“The men’s national team won its first Caribbean title last year and it has qualified for six of the last seven CONCACAF Gold Cups. Football has a long and rich history on the island and I’m delighted that we are here to recognise its many achievements.”

The FIFA/CONCACAF delegation was on a brief swing through the region ahead of yesterday’s XXVIII CONCACAF Ordinary Congress in Panama.

The delegation reviewed the results of projects in Cuba initiated with FIFA’s support, and held talks with President Raul Castro.

“Cuba is an example for many national associations to follow,” declared Blatter at a news conference in Havana.

“… especially when it comes to the relationship between the association and government, whose support is essential in providing funding for the coaches and staff who look after the national teams.”

Cuba has also experienced success at the youth and women’s level.

Earlier this year, its men’s Under-20 squad qualified for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup for the first time.

The women’s national team advanced to the final round of Olympic Qualifying in January 2012, holding eventual-finalist Canada to two first-half goals in a 2-0 group stage defeat.