Kerri-Ann scores big against glass ceiling

The Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) first female General Secretary Kerri-Ann Alleyne will go from shopping with and entertaining the wives of foreign delegates to sitting with the big cajunas and chairing her first CONCACAF Congress on February 19 in Barbados. In her six years at CONCACAF, she has risen from Administrative Assistant to Events Co-ordinator and, recently, CFU General Secretary. Kerri-Ann always had aspirations of getting into the diplomatic service and “this is the best experience I could possibly get in the field of international relations,” said the Holy Name Convent ‘A’ Level graduate in languages. She also holds a post-graduate Diploma in International Relations and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Government from the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.

In an interview at her La Horquetta home in Arima, Kerri-Ann told People that the nobility that comes with her new job “hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m thrilled, but there is so much work scheduled from now ’til February, and it is just to get it done.” A down-to-earth, quiet and unassuming Kerri-Ann could fittingly be described as FIFA Vice President/CONCACAF and CFU President Jack Warner’s “right hand.” Her duties are undoubtedly weighty. She has charge over 30 Associations within CFU, which is one of the group of countries within CONCACAF. “It’s basically football administrative duties, ensuring activities within the Caribbean are brought to my attention. My job is to co-ordinate events for the region, for example for an Under-17 match I have to appoint match commissioners, referees and so on,” said Kerri-Ann. “This is an election year for CFU, so we are preparing for that.”

And it is all about getting the tasks done on time. She described her boss, Warner, as a task-master and their relationship as “quite amicable.”
But her previous post was just as challenging. She was events co-ordinator for CFU, CONCACAF and TTFF. “Our premier event is the CONCACAF Gold Cup. There are several aspects of the job — arrivals, accommodation, transportation, match-day protocol, making sure the match starts on time, that the balls are there; and everyone involved needs to be there (at the stadium) at least 90 minutes before the match.” She laughed as she recalled some of the hiccups experienced along the way. “I remember one game in particular, it was Dominican Republic vs Trinidad and Tobago. Usually we collect a copy of each team’s anthem and get it cued before it is played for the match, and that didn’t happen. So that when we put it (CD) in we heard ‘God Save the Queen.’”

“Another time had been the Women’s Under-19 event and someone was supposed to copy the anthem onto a CD. When I put in the copy to test it I heard nothing. So quickly, I went on the Internet, searched for the particular anthem, and downloaded it just in time as the announcer came on and played it from there. “At times like that, your heart is racing and I’m saying, ‘Oh my god, I’m going to screw this up.’ But I think that God really loves me a lot because things always seem to work out.” The call is hers when it comes to terminating a match, of course with the guidance of match officials, if lighting is poor or the field is too soggy. She told of her fears: “Sometimes you’re scared the decision isn’t the best. A decision like that throws off people’s departure, costs are increased among other pressing issues.”

Even though the job may call for 18-hour work days, Kerri-Ann is loving every minute of it. She has been to “cool places” like Kenya, Botswana, South Africa and Mexico touring with the Trinidad and Tobago National football team. “I love Mexico and every time I go I collect Mexican clay pottery which is called talavera.” There is little off time, the 28-year-old said. “We are expected to work hard. If you have tasks to accomplish, at the end of the day you have to get them done.” So when she gets home, Kerri-Ann has just enough time to “iron and feed the dogs (Missy and Scrappy).” She is a cartoon fanatic and enjoys watching Sponge Bob and Hey Arnold! “That is how I get to relax. The first stations I turn to are Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, and then the comedy stations.

It’s mindless entertainment, mindless humour.” Today she returns from Barbados Jazz Festival where Alicia Keys was a “must-see.” Is playing football on her list of sporting activities? Though she agreed that it is a passionate sport, Kerri-Ann prefers to stick to the administrative aspects of the game. The sneakers she wear to and from work which save her the torture of twisted ankles and foot aches, she said, are only a decoy. “People think that I’m in the gym or something, but the sneakers get me to work faster.” Her thoughts on CFU’s vision and how she hopes to achieve it: “Football needs to continue to grow in the region. Already we’ve seen stronger performances from teams like St Kitts and St Vincent and Grenadines... I hope to maintain the amicable working relationship with people in the Caribbean.”