TCIFA Club Members Receive New Equipment As Part Of FIFA COVID-19 Relief
On the morning of November 25, 2020 registered Club Members of the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) received equipment packages as part of TCIFA’s ongoing club support and league development initiative. The initiative, now reinforced by the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan, was also extended to associate club members active within the Men and Women’s Football Leagues. The registered club members comprise of Teachers FC, Cheshire Hall FC, SWA Sharks FC, Netrockers FC, and Revolution FC; and associate club members consist of Beaches FC, Blue Hills FC, and Flamingo FC.
Over 150 Member Associations are benefiting from FIFA’s groundbreaking COVID-19 Relief Plan aiding youth, grassroots, men and women’s football through a system of grants and loans. The objective of the plan is to enable member associations to protect and safeguard football from the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby allowing them to continue developing and strengthening football in all its forms. As such, the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan, among other things, aim to protect what has been achieved by means of the other FIFA programmes, such as FIFA Forward. This plan offers tailored support, adapted according to the individual needs of the member associations.
With football now heading toward a slow return to normality, and clubs anxious to return to play, a club financial-aid programme was established and approved by the TCIFA for registered club members, utilizing funds received under the FIFA COVID-19 Relief plan. These grants will cover pandemic-related losses and needs, and will essentially come with strict compliance and audit requirements. TCIFA plans to resume league action in early 2021, and look forward to strengthening the administrative aspect as the leagues aim to become more structured.
Commenting on the introduction of the relief plan, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said “This relief plan is a great example of football’s solidarity and commitment in such unprecedented times. I would like to thank my colleagues of the Bureau of the Council for approving the decision to move forward with such an important initiative for the benefit of all member associations and confederations.”
The relief plan has had an immediate and extensive impact on the Turks and Caicos Islands Junior and Senior National Football Teams. It has funded COVID-19 testing of all national team players, coaching staff and office staff, the implementation of return to play protocols, restart of competitions, player subventions, hiring, academic/educational support, and video technology.
“As we continue to address this public health crisis, it’s critical that we also focus on the recovery of our programmes, as well as supporting our clubs and leagues which continue to be impacted by our necessary mitigation efforts,” said TCIFA President, Sonia Fulford. “We are absolutely grateful for the partnership we have with FIFA. The COVID-19 relief funding is the biggest tool we can use to bolster our clubs, maintain our programmes, and help all those affiliated with the day to day operations of football in the Turks and Caicos Islands at a time of immense distress.”
