February 5 – Croatian playing legend and now president of the Croatian Football Association, Davor Šuker, is in the Caribbean visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands this weekend. The trip follows an initial approach from the Croatians to the Turks and Caicos Islands last December offering assistance and seeking to build a stronger relationship with the federation.
Šuker will attending the TCIFA’s Grassroots Development Programme at the Academy’s football pitch in Providenciales and will meet with members of the association and coaches as well as giving a talk to players. He will make a presentation of football equipment on behalf of the Croatian Football Federation to the TCIFA.
After the grassroots sessions the CFF President will put on a specialized clinic for all the Academy strikers, aged 13-15 years old. The objective here, Šuker states, is to put all the strikers through a challenging clinic dedicated to the art of creating and scoring goals.
President of the TCIFA, Chis Bryan said: “We welcome Mr Šuker to our Islands and thank him for his keen interest in what we are trying to achieve through our youth football development progrmmes. What better way is there for kids to learn than to be coahced by a World Cup legend.”
Šuker was a playing legend worldwide and winner of the 1998 World Cup Golden Boot. He started his career in Croatia in 1984 for his hometown club Osijek, before moving to Real Madrid where he won a Champions League title, before moving on to Arsenal. He retired from playing in 2003.
Šuker then moved into development and managed his own football academy. In 2010 he became a member of the Croatian Football Federation Assembly and in 2011, he was appointed to the UEFA Football Committee. In July 2012, he was elected as the president of the Croatian Football Federation.
Sonia Bien-Amie, General Secretary of the TCIFA and a member of the FIFA executive committee, said: “A person of Mr Šuker’s stature will definitely leave an impact on the young players and coaches alike. We welcome him with anticipation and is excited about his collaboration with the TCIFA as we work towards improving the product of the TCIFA.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734854455labto1734854455ofdlr1734854455owedi1734854455sni@n1734854455osloh1734854455cin.l1734854455uap1734854455