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New gen-sec charged with settling impasse with PLCA
PAUL A REID, Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Returning general secretary Horace Reid as he arrives at the JFF offices yesterday morning. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood)
NEGRIL, Westmoreland - The newly-appointed general secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Horace Reid, is to meet "shortly" with a number of other stake holders in an effort to settle the impasse between the football ruling body and the Premier League Clubs' Association (PLCA).
Newly-elected president of the JFF, Captain Horace Burrell, announced at a press conference following Sunday's Congress at the Beaches Negril hotel that meetings would be held shortly to try and resolve whatever issues there were.
Captain Burrell said Reid, third vice-president Raymond Anderson, chairman of the Competitions Committee Michael Ricketts and Referees Committee chairman Peter Prendergast would "shortly meet with a view to resolving all the issues and to restart the Premier League as soon as possible".
The Cash Plus Premier League (CPPL) has been disrupted since last Wednesday due to an impasse between the JFF, which administers the league, and the PLCA over outstanding fees.
The issue was briefly raised at the Congress, but there were no resolutions.
In his acceptance speech during the Congress, Captain Burrell described the ongoing impasse as "most unfortunate", but added that he was impressed with the civil manner in which the discussions had been handled.
"Let me congratulate everyone here on the way you handled the situation. You have demonstrated that we have reached a stage of maturity in that we can come to a forum such as this one, discuss our main business without eating off each other's head and at the end of the day that we can arrive at a consensus."
The new JFF head said he was confident the issues would be worked out amicably as, "I believe everyone of you has a vested interest in seeing Jamaica's football going forward".
He promised, however, that his body would be striving to ensure there were no more interruptions. "Over the next several weeks I can guarantee you that a far more tidy and prudent approach will be taken by the JFF to ensure smooth transition of management, accountability, responsibility for the administration of the league."
He assured the clubs, which he said, must be concerned that everything would be done to make certain the league resumes soon. "We are in this business to move this football forward and whatever it takes we are prepared to do it."
Captain Burrell commended the leadership of the PLCA on its formation, saying: "I believe it is a good move in the right direction, those of us who are exposed to international football will tell you that this is the direction every country is moving if you are going to push your football forward."
He added, however, that for the PLCA to have maximum effect there must be the inclusion of the government at some level. "We must, however, broaden the stakeholders, the government of Jamaica, as in the case of T&T where they have a number of First-World football stadiums (stadia), as without government support we cannot achieve this."
PAUL A REID, Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Returning general secretary Horace Reid as he arrives at the JFF offices yesterday morning. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood)
NEGRIL, Westmoreland - The newly-appointed general secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Horace Reid, is to meet "shortly" with a number of other stake holders in an effort to settle the impasse between the football ruling body and the Premier League Clubs' Association (PLCA).
Newly-elected president of the JFF, Captain Horace Burrell, announced at a press conference following Sunday's Congress at the Beaches Negril hotel that meetings would be held shortly to try and resolve whatever issues there were.
Captain Burrell said Reid, third vice-president Raymond Anderson, chairman of the Competitions Committee Michael Ricketts and Referees Committee chairman Peter Prendergast would "shortly meet with a view to resolving all the issues and to restart the Premier League as soon as possible".
The Cash Plus Premier League (CPPL) has been disrupted since last Wednesday due to an impasse between the JFF, which administers the league, and the PLCA over outstanding fees.
The issue was briefly raised at the Congress, but there were no resolutions.
In his acceptance speech during the Congress, Captain Burrell described the ongoing impasse as "most unfortunate", but added that he was impressed with the civil manner in which the discussions had been handled.
"Let me congratulate everyone here on the way you handled the situation. You have demonstrated that we have reached a stage of maturity in that we can come to a forum such as this one, discuss our main business without eating off each other's head and at the end of the day that we can arrive at a consensus."
The new JFF head said he was confident the issues would be worked out amicably as, "I believe everyone of you has a vested interest in seeing Jamaica's football going forward".
He promised, however, that his body would be striving to ensure there were no more interruptions. "Over the next several weeks I can guarantee you that a far more tidy and prudent approach will be taken by the JFF to ensure smooth transition of management, accountability, responsibility for the administration of the league."
He assured the clubs, which he said, must be concerned that everything would be done to make certain the league resumes soon. "We are in this business to move this football forward and whatever it takes we are prepared to do it."
Captain Burrell commended the leadership of the PLCA on its formation, saying: "I believe it is a good move in the right direction, those of us who are exposed to international football will tell you that this is the direction every country is moving if you are going to push your football forward."
He added, however, that for the PLCA to have maximum effect there must be the inclusion of the government at some level. "We must, however, broaden the stakeholders, the government of Jamaica, as in the case of T&T where they have a number of First-World football stadiums (stadia), as without government support we cannot achieve this."
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