The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) in collaboration with FIFA and the Local Organising Committee of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, commenced a three-day marketing workshop at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain, Trinidad, on Tuesday.

With less than six months to go before this country hosts the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the workshop is being described as an essential preparatory component to ensure the successful staging of the event.

Over 30 firms, including FIFA partners, national sponsors, potential partners, government agencies and probable stakeholders, attended yesterday’s session,

During the opening ceremony, FIFA vice-president, Trinidadian Jack Warner said he was pleasantly surprised by the positive response to the event and believes that the workshop is a sign of greater things to come.

“The U-17 Women’s World Cup is not about one team , it’s not just a World Cup. The event is a catalyst for change, women’s football will not only be transformed as we journey to the 2010 Women’s World Cup, but the journey will continue well after,” said Warner.

Yesterday’s workshop was spearheaded by the LOC’s deputy CEO Nataki Kerr.

During her presentation, she sought to further sensitise stakeholders about the event and shared a number of forthcoming events, which will be used to promote the tournament, including a nationwide giant football promotion and name the mascot and essay competitions.

She said while marketing partners are a crucial and indispensable component of the success equation of the event, all must work in unison to ensure the population is enthusiastic about this project.

Kerr also announced that the LOC has already signed on two partners to the event and she expressed profound optimism that a third deal would be finalised soon.