Documentation Submitted By Captain Horace Burrell

Under –17

Before 1999, Jamaica’s Under-17 teams would get to the semifinal rounds of the CONCACAF playoffs, only to stumble before getting to the final hurdle.

Lack of preparation was the major excuse proffered by the coaching staff. The JFF set out to change this in 1998 by creating a path not dissimilar to that served to qualify the senior team for the World Cup Finals the year before.

An Under-15 national squad was created for the first time in the summer of 1999, with the main objective being the preparation of a squad for the qualifying rounds of the 2001 World Under 17 Championships. Clovis de Olivera prepared the squad. They played a couple of games in the United States and gained valuable experience from the excursion.

 The players were called to camp on a regular basis, played countless games locally and internationally and even went on camps in Brazil and played in competitions in France. They qualified for the final round of the CONCACAF World Under-17 Championships with ease, brushing aside Caribbean rivals.

In dramatic fashion, they went on to top the CONCACAF Final round Group played in Montego Bay, consisting of Honduras, Costa Rica and the United States, imitating their senior colleagues in qualifying for a historic World Championship Final played in New Zealand. They lost all three games played in the final, but returned home much wiser for the exposure.

In 2003 they got to the final round of the competition but were knocked out at that stage.

Under-20

Following qualification for the World Under-17 Championship in 1999, the JFF set the same squad, with some excellent additions, on a path to qualification for the Under-20 World Cup. They too played many practice games during a rigorous preparatory period, both at home and abroad, and it was no surprise when they managed to qualify for the said Championship played in Argentina in 1991. They were the first Jamaica team to qualify for the prestigious event.

Of note, is that goalkeeper Allien Whittaker was selected as a starter on the FIFA ‘All Stars’ eleven, a prestigious honour. He was the sole selectee from the CONCACAF region.

At least three of these players went on to play professional football in Europe. Kelly was drafted by Paris St Germain, France, Adam Wallace in Belgium and Omar Daley now plies his trade in England.

Under –23

The Under-23s have always been competitive in the Caribbean region, but have not been able to surpass the final round of qualification for the Olympic games. The current squad was selected earlier this year and has been going through almost continuous training with the technical staff. After eliminating a tough Cuban team, drawing 1-1 in Havana and then winning 1-0 in Jamaica. Their next opponents will be Guatemala at home and away.

Senior Men.

The qualification of the senior team for the 1998 World Cup is certainly the highlight of Jamaica’s football – period.

They played in Group H alongside two-time World Champions Argentina, and fellow first-timers Croatia and Japan. Jamaica finished third in the group after losses to Croatia and Argentina and a memorable and historic victory 2-1 victory over Japan. Midfielder Theodore Whitmore scored both goals for Jamaica.

Many local-based players who went to the World Cup went on to get professional contracts both in the United States and Europe. Eighteen-year old Ricardo Gardner, is now one of the top players at Bolton Wanderers, a Premiership team in England and Whitmore is now at Livingston, Scotland, after a 3-year stint at Hull City in England. Ian Goodison also played at Hull City while Onandi Lowe is now at Rusden and Diamonds. Christopher Dawes has had stints in Belgium, while Linval Dixon and Dean Sewell have played in the United States.

The World Cup has also helped to expose Jamaica and it’s players, affording many others the opportunity of playing professionally including Claude Davis and Jermaine Johnson. Currently there are approximately 30 national players in professional clubs overseas.

There were other significant activities by this team since 1994.

Jamaica were invited to the 1998 CONACAF Gold Cup on the strength of their qualification for the World Cup the same year. They performed creditably, finishing fourth, beaten 1-0 by Brazil in time-added on.

They also qualified for the 2000 Gold Cup as winners of the 1998 Copa Caribe.

Jamaica also qualified for the finals of the Gold Cup in 2003 and got to the second round where they lost to Mexico in Mexico City.

Jamaica’s position in the FIFA Coca Cola Ranking jumped from 95 in 1994 to ---- in 1995, earning the team ‘FIFA’s best mover of the year.”  Currently Jamaica sits at 45,  a pretty decent position.

Women Under-19

Women’s Football was brought under the umbrella of the JFF in March 1999. Since then, our women have improved tremendously and should climb even higher on the World stage in the near future.

In 2001, for the first time in ever, Jamaica were represented at the international level in female age-group football. The girls performed creditably to qualify for the final round of the CONCACAF regional playoffs for the FIFA Under-19 World Cup. Frigid conditions and lack of experience took their toll and they stumbled. However, they learnt much from the experience which will certainly come in handy in the future.

Senior Women

History was created in 2002 when Jamaica’s senior women qualified for the CONCACAF Gold played in the United States. They put on a brave display which earned commendations from all who watched them play a few years earlier. They continue to improve.

Under-23 Women

Jamaica Under-23 squad, now in training, will bow into action from December 2-7 in the Cayman Islands, with the intention of qualifying for the 2004 Olympic games. This is the first national Under-23 women’s squad ever selected.

Referees

Jamaica’s referees have soared to new heights in the last decade. Currently there are four FIFA referees and six FIFA assistant referees operating in the island. However, there are approximately 300 referees at different levels officiating nationally.

Assistant referee Owen Powell created history when he became the first Jamaican to officiate at the World Cup Finals – France 1998.

Then in 2002, referee Peter Prendergast also created history when he became the first Jamaican to take control of a game at the World Cup Finals – Korea/Japan 2002. Prendergast is arguably the top referee in CONCACAF, having officiated in most of the top competitions staged by FIFA. He has officiated in three CONCACAF Gold Cup Finals as well as the Pan American Games Final.

Woman assistant referee Paulette Riley also made history by being the first Jamaican female referee to officiate at the Women’s CONCACAF Gold Cup competition in the United States in 2002 and continues to get appointments in all the major CONCACAF tournaments.

Owen Powell officiated in the Under-20 World Cup in Asia, while Michael Mitchell did duties at the 2002 Under –20 World Cup in Argentina.

Many other local referees have made their mark internationally, and currently, Jamaica has a high rotation of officials operating in international competitions – undoubtedly the highest per population in CONCACAF. Raymond Pine, Victor Stewart, Dave Meikle, Anthony Garwood, Michael Mitchell and the aforementioned Prendergast and Riley are involved on a monthly basis in international competition or international friendlies.

Other significant activities:

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