A FIFA/CIES Executive Programme alumnus elected President of the Puerto Rican Football Federation

Iván Rivera, an alumnus from the FIFA/CIES Executive Programme organised with Universidad de Costa Rica, was elected President of the Puerto Rican Football Federation during the General Assembly held last month. The new President shared impressions on the projects he intends to develop during his term of office.

When he was elected a few weeks ago, Iván Rivera became the youngest Football President on the international football scene at age 29. As the former Executive Manager of “Asociación Central de Balompié” and President of the “Jaguares de Corozal” club, he now intends to ensure timely implementation of his programme based on four pillars: Administration and governance, infrastructures, national teams and competitions and technical development. He considers that “these objectives in fact sum up the weaknesses of Puerto Rican football. We have a lot of work to do. The doors of the Federation are open to allow everyone to contribute to this vast undertaking; we are eager to hear all suggestions.”

Iván has learned an essential lesson from his past experience : “Here, many people have great ideas and solutions, but everyone works for themselves. That must change. We need to start working as a team.”

One of the first measures to be implemented by the new President will be to develop football infrastructures: “Improving them is a priority. To do that, we have identified abandoned buildings near football fields. These can be renovated to provide accommodation and decent training facilities for young players from the national teams and clubs.”

Coming back to his experience of the UCR/FIFA/CIES Executive Programme he completed two years ago, Iván adds: “Attending the course was one of the best decisions I ever made. Thanks to the classes taught by Universidad de Costa Rica, I acquired management skills I did not have until then. I can now consider my work as a manager through the prism of sport, which is an undeniable asset in my new duties.”

We extend all our congratulations to Iván, along with our best wishes for success in his work as President of Puerto Rican football.