Over the weekend, Saint Lucia football celebrated two milestones: hosting the CONCACAF Congress for the first time and the election of a Saint Lucian as the president of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).
Representatives from the 41 member territories of the Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Football gathered on the island for their 40th Congress, which was attended by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Infantino also remained for the 48th Ordinary Congress of the CFU, where Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA) president Lyndon Cooper was elected by acclamation as president, the first time a Saint Lucian has held that position.
“Based on the experience that I have, having served within the CFU over the last 12 years, I think was just important for me to have stepped forward to lead the organisation for the next four years,” said Cooper, who takes over from Barbados’ Randy Harris after nearly seven years.
Harris, who has became the first Barbadian to be elected to the prestigious FIFA Council, was lauded by Infantino, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, and Cooper for the work he has done with the sub-regional grouping of 31 member federations.
“He leaves the organisation on a very strong footing,” Cooper insisted. “As he indicated in his departing speech, I think that the CFU is much more solid than it was last year, five years, 10 years ago.”
Over the past decade, the new CFU boss has overseen the completion of two GOAL projects, a massive injection in grassroots football for boys and girls, and the semi-professionalisation of the domestic game in Saint Lucia. Adamant that he remains committed to uplifting local football, he nonetheless set out his regional priorities leading up to 2029.
“Technical development, competitions, and governance, those are going to be the priority,” Cooper stated. “But that’s after we complete the strategic plan, what we would prefer to call now 3.0, because 2.0 ends in 2026.”
CONCACAF Congress Saint Lucia 2025 included a celebrity game, a presidents’ dinner, an electoral assembly, and a reception at Government House. For his part, Cooper lauded the Government of Saint Lucia, including the Ministry for Youth Development and Sports, Events Saint Lucia, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, and Export Saint Lucia. Infantino, Montagliani, and other leaders also shared their appreciation for a well-run event.
“They have expressed the sentiment that it is well organised, well executed, and they have never seen such a level of organisation,” Cooper revealed. “And they have expressed thanks to all the persons who have made this event what it is and having a very successful both CONCACAF and CFU Congress.
“I don’t think there are there are sufficient words in in any language to express the SLFA’s thanks to CONCACAF and the CFU for choosing Saint Lucia as the host. I must express for the second time publicly our sincere gratitude to the government and all the agencies who made this 40th Congress of CONCACAF a very successful one.”
