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A word of caution to Captain Burrell and his team
Saturday, November 03, 2007
As we all know, nature abhors a vacuum. So it is then that football lovers will tomorrow experience a real sense of relief with the installation of a new Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) administration under the leadership of Captain Horace Burrell.
We have said it before in this space, we say it again: this newspaper believes Captain Burrell is the right man at the right time for Jamaica's football.
The hope is that the Captain and his team will be able to equal, or even better their performance of the late '90s to early 2000s when Jamaica's senior Reggae Boyz qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France and also earned places at two age-group World Cup finals.
In the immediate short term, there is the urgent need to return credibility and a basic sense of organisation to the running of football.
The truth is that save for the entirely unexpected silver medal performance of the Under-20 team at the Pan Am Games in mid-year, the sport in Jamaica has been in disaster mode for several months.
The latest episode involves the suspension of the nation's club league in mid-week because of a complete breakdown in relations between the JFF and the newly-formed Premier League Clubs' Association (PLCA).
Without attempting to explore the ins and outs of the disagreement, it seems clear that the issue flowed in large measure from the reality that the outgoing administration led by Mr Crenston Boxhill had gone completely lame. Not just now, but months ago the JFF's leadership lost its ability to lead and to negotiate since it no longer commanded clout or respect among the clubs and affiliates and indeed the wider community.
All of which brings into sharp focus an apparent weakness in the constitution of the JFF which allowed this entirely unacceptable situation to continue for so long a period. For surely, from as long ago as early August when it became apparent that Mr Boxhill would not be able to contest the presidency because he had no support whatsoever among those with the power to vote, it should have been clear that his administration would not be able to govern.
Indeed, we have hardly heard from Mr Boxhill since. It seems reasonable that in such circumstances, the Boxhill administration should have been required to resign and suitable alternative arrangements made, preferably involving a bringing forward of the four-yearly voting congress.
The obvious weaknesses in day-to-day administration apart, the absence of effective leadership in recent months has meant, for example, that the Reggae Boyz - with World Cup qualifiers drawing closer and closer - stayed idle. This, even as others in CONCACAF have been busy playing International Friendlies on scheduled FIFA match days.
We expect Captain Burrell to quickly bring order and leadership to what has been a rudderless ship. But we believe a word of caution is in order.
There is apparent consensus that Captain Burrell and his team lost out to Mr Boxhill four years ago because of what was seen to be arrogance and a lack of respect for the parishes, clubs and affiliates.
It is not always easy to be humble, but it is truly a good quality to have. We recommend that the Captain and his team bear this in mind as they take up the reins.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
As we all know, nature abhors a vacuum. So it is then that football lovers will tomorrow experience a real sense of relief with the installation of a new Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) administration under the leadership of Captain Horace Burrell.
We have said it before in this space, we say it again: this newspaper believes Captain Burrell is the right man at the right time for Jamaica's football.
The hope is that the Captain and his team will be able to equal, or even better their performance of the late '90s to early 2000s when Jamaica's senior Reggae Boyz qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France and also earned places at two age-group World Cup finals.
In the immediate short term, there is the urgent need to return credibility and a basic sense of organisation to the running of football.
The truth is that save for the entirely unexpected silver medal performance of the Under-20 team at the Pan Am Games in mid-year, the sport in Jamaica has been in disaster mode for several months.
The latest episode involves the suspension of the nation's club league in mid-week because of a complete breakdown in relations between the JFF and the newly-formed Premier League Clubs' Association (PLCA).
Without attempting to explore the ins and outs of the disagreement, it seems clear that the issue flowed in large measure from the reality that the outgoing administration led by Mr Crenston Boxhill had gone completely lame. Not just now, but months ago the JFF's leadership lost its ability to lead and to negotiate since it no longer commanded clout or respect among the clubs and affiliates and indeed the wider community.
All of which brings into sharp focus an apparent weakness in the constitution of the JFF which allowed this entirely unacceptable situation to continue for so long a period. For surely, from as long ago as early August when it became apparent that Mr Boxhill would not be able to contest the presidency because he had no support whatsoever among those with the power to vote, it should have been clear that his administration would not be able to govern.
Indeed, we have hardly heard from Mr Boxhill since. It seems reasonable that in such circumstances, the Boxhill administration should have been required to resign and suitable alternative arrangements made, preferably involving a bringing forward of the four-yearly voting congress.
The obvious weaknesses in day-to-day administration apart, the absence of effective leadership in recent months has meant, for example, that the Reggae Boyz - with World Cup qualifiers drawing closer and closer - stayed idle. This, even as others in CONCACAF have been busy playing International Friendlies on scheduled FIFA match days.
We expect Captain Burrell to quickly bring order and leadership to what has been a rudderless ship. But we believe a word of caution is in order.
There is apparent consensus that Captain Burrell and his team lost out to Mr Boxhill four years ago because of what was seen to be arrogance and a lack of respect for the parishes, clubs and affiliates.
It is not always easy to be humble, but it is truly a good quality to have. We recommend that the Captain and his team bear this in mind as they take up the reins.
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