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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 25 2006 : 5:35:29 PM
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PRESENTATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE JAMAICA FOOTBALL FEDERATION TO THE 2005-2006 AWARDS CEREMONY FOR THE JFF/UNDER 21 LEAGUE, THE WRAY AN NEPHEW KNOCK-OUT CUP AND THE WRAY AND NEPHEW NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE
HELD JULY 24, 2006
TERRA NOVA ALL SUITES HOTEL
The Jamaica Football Federation continues to value highly Wray and Nephew’s support for our premier domestic Football League.
Nothing can replace the role the League plays in unearthing and developing our players. Eight months out of the calendar year, the rigors of the training and the matches themselves can instill invaluable qualities necessary for the highest levels of football.
The league format introduced last season will deepen that path towards professionalism and sheer discipline and we expect will further force the clubs to get with it from game one, or frankly decide to play catch up for the entire eight months.
My personal gratitude to Digicel for their assistance for the Under 21 League, to Wisynco through their Wata brand and Goodyear for their associate sponsorship support to the Premier League this last season.
There is no doubt that the upcoming 2006-2007 season will be special from a number of perspectives.
First we will see how many of the clubs have learnt the lessons from the last season and will be showing the important transition from the usual early season sluggishness to a sustained crescendo of improvement over the season.
Equally important, this season takes us just a few months short of the start of world cup qualifications. Yes, just short about nine months. This will be a critical season for the players as I expect an all out effort will be made by them to impress ……. well who needs to be impressed.
Players, this point is made for you. I encourage you not to lose sight of the prize.
The season will also be special because the Third Round will coincide with the cricket World Cup and based on our understanding of the structure of the fixtures for that event, the League and the sponsors should be able to benefit from the many visitors likely to have some down time from the cricket. It is said that most people who love cricket also love football so we will seek to take advantage of this.
We will certainly be discussing the possibilities with the sponsor of the League as well as the Local Organising Committee of Cricket World Cup.
So we move to football’s own big event. The Federation itself is presently organising its own strategic plan for football’s premier event in 2010.
Let me say from the administration’s point of view we not only understand the expectations of the fans but we share the view that this world cup will be extraordinarily special.
We recognise the significance of:
the African connection, the deep rooted links
the work done by our past leaders and entertainers in deepening the connection
It’s as if it is time for our sportsmen through football to now place Jamaica’s sporting mark firmly on the African continent.
We are even reminded that the name the Reggae Boyz was given to the Jamaican team by the Zambians when the team visited Zambia in 1995 to play an international friendly game.
So we know and we share the passion.
As we put together the plan for presentation to key stakeholders, we are already very clear on some of the main elements and I think this is a perfect setting to outline some of these elements:
The number one priority is the upgrading of the technical staff. Over the last two and a half months, I have been extremely disappointed with the results we have had, both at the senior level as well as to some extent our Under 23’s.
It cannot therefore be business as usual. I repeat it cannot be therefore business as usual. These results force us to look at overhauling that critical area of our operations.
I am pleased to say we are making progress. We have received recent information that should allow us to reach some finality very soon in respect of a Coach for the National Senior Team. We expect to be doing formal interviews over the next week.
But Ladies and Gentlemen, the level of resources needed to ensure a quality overhaul of the Technical Department cannot happen without combined public and private sector support. The government through the Honorable Prime Minister has committed. We now wish the private sector to throw its hands in.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we cannot wish it into being. Passion and wanting it to happen won’t make it happen. Accepting that it is needed won’t make it happen. I have to be blunt it will need hard reliable cash.
We are also being very realistic here. As much as we say that an experienced overseas coach for the senior team is decisive to our efforts, we are not fooled into thinking it will be the end. Success will be about a full package of ingredients.
We are looking for someone with respected and recommended experience. We are looking for someone who will be able to work within Jamaican realities and someone who will help to galvanise support around the team.
Arising out of a recent discussion with a member of a leading private sector firm, I want to assure sponsors that support for this critical element will not be lost on your clientele. Think about it ..if we agree that this is one of the most vital areas for success, how can you lose?….I would suggest that the mileage will be tremendous.
The second element that we are committed to is that we will be having a very inclusive campaign. We want all sectors of the Jamaican community to be involved:
We will be targeting
Corporate jamaica…………small, medium and large enterprises
Public sector entities
The disapora
The farmers, the hotels
The Parish Associations
The diplomatic Corps
Past players, past administrators, past coaches
Our entertainers
The leadership of the media as well as all our working journalists
and every football loving individual.
To achieve this all inclusive approach, we will be sharing our plans with representatives of all the above over the coming months and we of course will welcome new ideas.
Of course practice games at home and away will be the main test and around which much of the needed support will revolve.
On September 4, the Jamaican National team will play Canada in Toronto. On October 8 we will have a return match at the office.
Five weeks later, on November 15, the National team will face three time World Cup qualifier and number forty two (42) in current FIFA rankings….. Peru, again at the National Stadium. We expect that this momentum will steadily grow over the next few months. Our aim remains to have a match home or away each month.
In the middle of these international games, our Senior team will defend their regional title, the Digicel Caribbean Cup with one round being played here in Jamaica at the end of September.
Another important plank in our plan will be to ensure that the best and most committed of the Under 23’s get all the support, exposure and experience possible.
Last night’s result was hugely disappointing, but I have no doubt that these players have the talent. Much has been invested in their development and we will continue to give them the support so that the best can emerge.
We are too often getting stuck at the level of CONCACAF in major tournaments, hence our determination to revamp our Technical Department. We also have to look at the amount of overseas games that our players play, but this is an area that demands resources and I continue to make the plea for support in this area.
The next big test for this Under 21 squad will be the Olympic games in 2008 which will give a good indicator of their progress at just about the right time. But I expect that many of the players will be involved in other tournaments along the way.
We must put the systems in place and facilitate their growth. Once we do that then its over to the coaches and the players to do the rest. I believe it is the sustainable way for football and player development in Jamaica.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this leads me to an important point which I want to use this opportunity to address.
There has been some questioning of the execution of our youth development policy and its relationship with the Senior team.
Whereas I will never be the one to say that all elements that I would have liked to have been implemented, have been, I can confidently say that we have made a distinct change in gear.
The research confirms it. I looked at the current members of the Under 23’s presently in Colombia. Nine members of the squad there now also played at the Under 20 level and seven of that nine played at the Under 17 level. (I have omitted Luton Shelton because though he would be part of the equation, he is presently not in Colombia).
In a couple of weeks….August 12 in fact, our Under 17’s leave to defend the title of Caribbean Youth Champions which they achieved last year. This was a first time achievement for Jamaica.
Under new coach, David Hunt, they have been in week-end camps since January and will be a part of 28 teams competing in defence of their title in August.
That tournament will be an important stage in the preparation for the Under 17 World Cup in South Korea next year which will include a qualification round in April in Jamaica.
Much has already been said of the achievement of our Under 20 National Women’s team in placing fourth in the CONCACAF stage of the Under 20 World Cup Qualifiers in Mexico early this year.
Now our women’s senior team (which includes a high percentage of the under 20 players) move one stage closer to Gold Cup Qualification in September having topped their group in the preliminary round earlier this year.
Last but not least I wish to announce that the tenders for the architectural and engineering designs on the administrative suite, residential blocks, lecture areas and welfare facilities of the National Football Academy will be opened on July 27 by the FIFA Development Officer, Mr. Harold Taylor at the JFF offices.
The awardee will be expected to begin construction shortly thereafter.
As the days have moved on and we have gotten closer to the construction stage, I am glad that although the change in venue meant some delay it will be worth it.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a location for the Academy which will be far from all the unhealthy distractions that our youth and footballers can sometimes face.
It will be near to educational institutions in the event the younger ones are there for extended periods.
Regular visitors will be restricted at the same time that recreation will be facilitated. Treasure Beach is just a few miles away.
Should I talk about the climate and the acclimatization, assessed to have been so critical in the Girls’ preparation for Mexico early this year
Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope you have made the transition with me and you are in St. Elizabeth, at the Academy. Isn’t it beautiful? Clean unpolluted air and so relaxing. Are you seeing our Under 17’s as maybe the first occupants. Are you seeing players from Real Madrid and Manchester United enjoying the environment? Are you hearing Bob Marley’s music in the background? Are you seeing the Digicel gymnasium and the Wray and Nephew and Wata training fields and the Goodyear maintenace unit. (Nothing confirmed, that is a mere encouragement)
Ladies and Gentlemen would you want our best footballers to be anywhere else? I ask again.
We think that a relatively firm foundation is being laid for a team for 2010. The short and medium term tasks are set:
an overhauling of the technical staff
a concentrated plan focused on the Under17, the Under 23, the Women’s programme and the senior team
an inclusionary execution plan
For those who say we abandoned the senior programme, I respond by saying that we are seeking to make the senior programme have a stronger foundation and a more secure future and I wish to add importantly, to provide more options for the coaching staff to choose from.
A great amount more needs to be done. However we cannot do it without your support, your resources and your faith.
With companies like Wray and Nephew, Wata, Digicel and Goodyear I certainly have that faith.
My best wishes for an enjoyable evening and my personal congratulations to all the winners.
Forwarded by: JFF Press Officer - Garth Williams
July 25, 2006 |
Karl |
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PRESENTATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE JFF
