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Football needs a new direction <DIV class=KonaBody>
JAMAICA'S ELIMINATION from the first round of the Digicel Caribbean Cup has put a serious dent in the country's football programme.
Less than two years before qualification starts for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Jamaica's Reggae Boyz have been knocked out of a tournament in which they were not only expected to reach the final but to repeat their success of last year. Many are now asking what went wrong with a programme which in the past decade has not only produced a team for the senior World Cup to France in 1998, but also qualified junior squads for the Under-20 and Under-17 World Cups?
Enough talent
Even with a local-based squad it was felt that Jamaica had enough talent to at least get over the first hurdle in a tournament comprising mainly minnows from one of the weakest football regions in the world. While all the problems did not start with the current administration, it cannot escape being burdened with much of the blame for the deep hole in which local football now finds itself.
The previous administration was responsible for getting Jamaica close to the elite of worldfootball and the current administration unseated it and came in promising to do even better.
The truth is, they have failed to live up to the promises. Jamaica's only real success in recent years was winning the Caribbean title. In that time, the rating of the national team has slipped from the 40s into the mid-70s and could go even lower when the next rankings are published.
SLIP IN RANKINGS
Jamaica's ranking has slipped because the country has been playing very few international matches against quality teams. In those they have played, the team has suffered some heavy defeats - mainly in England. The Crenston Boxhill administration has said repeatedly that it is difficult to attract teams which can make a profit to come to the National Stadium, but many are wondering if they have tried hard enough.
Strong senior squad
On another point, the current administration has said it is focussing on youth and women's football and they are doing well, but where will it get the finances to sustain those two programmes?
Everyone knows that youth and women's football do not bring in money. The country needs a strong senior squad which can attract spectators to the National Stadium so that money can be earned to spend on the junior and female squads.
Football is the only local sport which has the potential to bring in more than $10 million on a good afternoon. A strong senior team will also attract more sponsorship for the programme.
New mandate
Where do we go from here? It is my sincere view that the Boxhill administration needs to seek a new mandate. After the Digicel Caribbean Cup debacle there is every likelihood that many, including spectators and sponsors, are going to be turned off by the current direction in which local football is going. The JFF was hoping to get private sector and government help to hire a foreign technical director but will this happen now? Are we doomed to a long period of uncertainty after Carl Brown's interim period is over? Answers are needed to these questions immediately, 2007 may be too late.
You may send your comments to elton.tucker@gleanerjm.com or eltontucker@yahoo.com.</DIV>
JAMAICA'S ELIMINATION from the first round of the Digicel Caribbean Cup has put a serious dent in the country's football programme.
Less than two years before qualification starts for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Jamaica's Reggae Boyz have been knocked out of a tournament in which they were not only expected to reach the final but to repeat their success of last year. Many are now asking what went wrong with a programme which in the past decade has not only produced a team for the senior World Cup to France in 1998, but also qualified junior squads for the Under-20 and Under-17 World Cups?
Enough talent
Even with a local-based squad it was felt that Jamaica had enough talent to at least get over the first hurdle in a tournament comprising mainly minnows from one of the weakest football regions in the world. While all the problems did not start with the current administration, it cannot escape being burdened with much of the blame for the deep hole in which local football now finds itself.
The previous administration was responsible for getting Jamaica close to the elite of worldfootball and the current administration unseated it and came in promising to do even better.
The truth is, they have failed to live up to the promises. Jamaica's only real success in recent years was winning the Caribbean title. In that time, the rating of the national team has slipped from the 40s into the mid-70s and could go even lower when the next rankings are published.
SLIP IN RANKINGS
Jamaica's ranking has slipped because the country has been playing very few international matches against quality teams. In those they have played, the team has suffered some heavy defeats - mainly in England. The Crenston Boxhill administration has said repeatedly that it is difficult to attract teams which can make a profit to come to the National Stadium, but many are wondering if they have tried hard enough.
Strong senior squad
On another point, the current administration has said it is focussing on youth and women's football and they are doing well, but where will it get the finances to sustain those two programmes?
Everyone knows that youth and women's football do not bring in money. The country needs a strong senior squad which can attract spectators to the National Stadium so that money can be earned to spend on the junior and female squads.
Football is the only local sport which has the potential to bring in more than $10 million on a good afternoon. A strong senior team will also attract more sponsorship for the programme.
New mandate
Where do we go from here? It is my sincere view that the Boxhill administration needs to seek a new mandate. After the Digicel Caribbean Cup debacle there is every likelihood that many, including spectators and sponsors, are going to be turned off by the current direction in which local football is going. The JFF was hoping to get private sector and government help to hire a foreign technical director but will this happen now? Are we doomed to a long period of uncertainty after Carl Brown's interim period is over? Answers are needed to these questions immediately, 2007 may be too late.
You may send your comments to elton.tucker@gleanerjm.com or eltontucker@yahoo.com.</DIV>