New football General Secretary ready for the challenge

Ian Hypolite, the newly appointed General Secretary of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) is up to the challenge of his new post.{{more}}

Hypolite, who is the first person to hold the position in a fully paid job with the SVGFF set up, told SEARCHLIGHT: “SVGFF is at a critical stage as an organisation and as a provider of services to the youth specifically and to communities in general across the nation.

“I accept this challenge and opportunity to make a contribution to the reorganisation, restructuring and development of football in SVG. I know that this would not be easy task because of the demarcation that exists in the nation.”

Philosophical in his vision, Hypolite said, “However, where there is a will there is a way and henceforth, I am confident that success will be a by-product of our collective effort.”

On the job for just over one month, Hypolite explained, “As a product of the youth and national programmes, I know that football transcends beyond being a sport to being a vehicle that inculcates new beginnings as it develops character, commitment and responsibility.”

“Today as the food systems are inundated with artificial by-products, and obesity becomes a scourge encapsulated with the lack of direction and basic human decency in interpersonal relationships in our communities, we must take it upon ourselves to make this sport of hope a conduit for active and healthy lifestyles and means to an end, a sound in mind and body,” added Hypolite, whose involvement in the sport straddles a wide continuum from player, coach, referee, and administrator.

Only seeing progress for Football from here on, the General Secretary stated: “ The SVGFF strategic plan as it capsulates the way forward through various programs: grassroots soccer, ‘Win with CONCACAF’, club administration, draw down on FIFA Goal projects, I see commitment and willingness towards progression.”

“As the Federation charts its way forward towards a professional, accountable and transparent enterprise, I am entrusted to ‘man’ the helm and ensure that our mission to create an environment that is conducive to the professional development of footballers, referees, coaches, administrators and all other stakeholders along with fostering and encouraging investment and participation of the general public, business community and government; to build a nationalistic attitude for the overall development of the sport along with the development of a unique Vincentian brand of football and to reach and maintain high ranking in the FIFA ranking is under way,” Hypolite concluded.

Hypolite’s appointment was in keeping with a FIFA mandate contained in the Coconut Bay Resolutions. (RT)