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It's a continuum, says new JFRA president
... Delahaye focuses on improvement in refereeing
ANDREW HANCEL, Observer staff reporter
hancela@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
After being voted in as the 20th president of the Jamaica Football Referees' Association (JFRA), Winston Delahaye makes it known that he intends to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor, former FIFA referee, Peter Prendergast.
"The vision for referee in Jamaica is a continuum," emphasised Delahaye, who defeated Roy Simpson 54-40 during last Sunday's Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the JFRA headquarters.
"Whether it is a referee from a parish group or a Confed, or from the national body, the vision is a continuum. What we want to see is continuous improvement in referees and refereeing," he explained to the Observer.
Added Delahaye: "However, admittedly, a new approach might be taken, as to how we implement or introduce this continuum from here on.
"But firstly it is a continuum... as certain things are concepts. And they are concepts because the objective of the association is to do these things. And anybody who comes into office must have that as part of his or her mandate."
Delahaye, a referee of 15 years, served as treasurer for two years in the last administration and was seen as a future leader once Prendergast decided against seeking re-election.
The new president is well known as a very forthright and outspoken individual since joining the association in 1993, and in one instance had a fallout with the JFRA and was suspended.
But the leadership qualities in him are invaluable as he returned to be that catalyst for change under the wings of Prendergast, who told the Observer "that the members have made a good choice" by voting in Delahaye.
"He is a strong leader, who has been part of the process. He contributed well during my tenure and I believe he will continue to improve the lives of our referees," said Prendergast, now chairman of the Jamaica Football Federation Referees' Committee (JFFRC) and the point-man between the country's governing football body and the JFRA.
This means that Delahaye and Prendergast will be interfacing on matters of equal concern and benefit to either body with the central view of developing a professional unit over time in the 61-year-old association.
The JFRA has already set out a list of things that it hopes to accomplish in short order, which includes, inter alia, increasing its recruitment drive with tertiary institutions the primary target.
"We want to have an annualising of referees, an annualising and recertification and regrading of referees," said the new JFRA boss, who is the Group Senior Internal Auditor at Guardian Holdings Ltd. "At a seminar or some seminars across the island... referees will be asked to do some retesting. And base on their retesting they're recertified... and base on the outcome of your result on this exam, this is the means by which you can officiate.
"We want to approach this in a structured and systematic way. But critical to that, I'd love to have the administration improve in serving the members' needs more efficiently. A website is also something that I would want to establish under my tenure.
"But critical to this, we want to create a professional outfit, where outsiders can see refereeing as one of the top five professions that they would want to get involve in. And that is the major plan that I want to carry forth during my time," said Delahaye, who is an adjunct member of staff at the University of the West Indies, lecturing in financial accounting.
At the AGM, Lloyd Harrison, was elected vice-president, Carvel Banton, treasurer and Karlene Gavin, assistant secretary/treasurer.
... Delahaye focuses on improvement in refereeing
ANDREW HANCEL, Observer staff reporter
hancela@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
After being voted in as the 20th president of the Jamaica Football Referees' Association (JFRA), Winston Delahaye makes it known that he intends to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor, former FIFA referee, Peter Prendergast.
"The vision for referee in Jamaica is a continuum," emphasised Delahaye, who defeated Roy Simpson 54-40 during last Sunday's Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the JFRA headquarters.
"Whether it is a referee from a parish group or a Confed, or from the national body, the vision is a continuum. What we want to see is continuous improvement in referees and refereeing," he explained to the Observer.
Added Delahaye: "However, admittedly, a new approach might be taken, as to how we implement or introduce this continuum from here on.
"But firstly it is a continuum... as certain things are concepts. And they are concepts because the objective of the association is to do these things. And anybody who comes into office must have that as part of his or her mandate."
Delahaye, a referee of 15 years, served as treasurer for two years in the last administration and was seen as a future leader once Prendergast decided against seeking re-election.
The new president is well known as a very forthright and outspoken individual since joining the association in 1993, and in one instance had a fallout with the JFRA and was suspended.
But the leadership qualities in him are invaluable as he returned to be that catalyst for change under the wings of Prendergast, who told the Observer "that the members have made a good choice" by voting in Delahaye.
"He is a strong leader, who has been part of the process. He contributed well during my tenure and I believe he will continue to improve the lives of our referees," said Prendergast, now chairman of the Jamaica Football Federation Referees' Committee (JFFRC) and the point-man between the country's governing football body and the JFRA.
This means that Delahaye and Prendergast will be interfacing on matters of equal concern and benefit to either body with the central view of developing a professional unit over time in the 61-year-old association.
The JFRA has already set out a list of things that it hopes to accomplish in short order, which includes, inter alia, increasing its recruitment drive with tertiary institutions the primary target.
"We want to have an annualising of referees, an annualising and recertification and regrading of referees," said the new JFRA boss, who is the Group Senior Internal Auditor at Guardian Holdings Ltd. "At a seminar or some seminars across the island... referees will be asked to do some retesting. And base on their retesting they're recertified... and base on the outcome of your result on this exam, this is the means by which you can officiate.
"We want to approach this in a structured and systematic way. But critical to that, I'd love to have the administration improve in serving the members' needs more efficiently. A website is also something that I would want to establish under my tenure.
"But critical to this, we want to create a professional outfit, where outsiders can see refereeing as one of the top five professions that they would want to get involve in. And that is the major plan that I want to carry forth during my time," said Delahaye, who is an adjunct member of staff at the University of the West Indies, lecturing in financial accounting.
At the AGM, Lloyd Harrison, was elected vice-president, Carvel Banton, treasurer and Karlene Gavin, assistant secretary/treasurer.