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Boyz look to Barbados after JFF pulls out of Haiti friendly
Sean Williams
Saturday, May 03, 2008
The proposed friendly international between Jamaica's Reggae Boyz and Haiti scheduled for May 18 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will not happen.
Yesterday, JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell confirmed speculation that the match will not get off the ground because of what he described as "failure on the part of the Haitian promoters to honour contractual obligations".
"We withdrew because of a lack of confidence in the promoters. They have missed many deadlines to fulfill their end of the bargain, so we didn't want to risk being associated with anything that could further damage the already tarnished imagine of our football," Burrell said.
Burrell, on his second stint as president of the JFF, said his administration, in taking the decision, also considered the possible impact that a cock-up in the organisation of the game could have on the football-loving Jamaican diaspora living in south Florida.
"Also in order to prevent any embarrassment to the Jamaican diaspora in particular and the football-loving people of Florida in general, we decided to pull out," said the CONCACAF Executive Committee member.
Burrell did not specify the areas where the promoters came up short.
With the Haiti game out the window, Jamaica, ranked 103 by FIFA, will consequently not have a game this month.
But as soon as it appeared that the Haiti (ranked 106) encounter was in doubt, Burrell sprung to action and has already got a commitment from another Caribbean side Barbados (ranked 116) to visit Jamaica for a June 3 match-up.
"We are presently finalising arrangements with the Barbados officials for that game at 'The Office' on Tuesday, June 3," he noted.
He added that all available overseas-based players will be called up for this encounter, and are expected to be in Jamaica for a training camp starting on May 25.
After the Barbados encounter, the full strength Boyz team will depart for Trinidad on June 5, for their return leg encounter with the Soca Warriors two days later. In the first leg of the two-way friendly series, the Boyz and Trinidad drew 2-2 inside the National Stadium in late March.
Shortly after the Trinidad match-up, Jamaica will commence their World Cup qualifying campaign against The Bahamas in Jamaica on June 15 and 18.
Meanwhile, technical director Rene Simoes leaves the island today for the United States in continuation of his scouting of Jamaican players.
Simoes is scheduled to scrutinise players involved in today's Major League Soccer game between Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy, and tomorrow's game between Colorado and DC United.
The Brazilian has already wrapped up his mission in England.
Sean Williams
Saturday, May 03, 2008
The proposed friendly international between Jamaica's Reggae Boyz and Haiti scheduled for May 18 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will not happen.
Yesterday, JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell confirmed speculation that the match will not get off the ground because of what he described as "failure on the part of the Haitian promoters to honour contractual obligations".
"We withdrew because of a lack of confidence in the promoters. They have missed many deadlines to fulfill their end of the bargain, so we didn't want to risk being associated with anything that could further damage the already tarnished imagine of our football," Burrell said.
Burrell, on his second stint as president of the JFF, said his administration, in taking the decision, also considered the possible impact that a cock-up in the organisation of the game could have on the football-loving Jamaican diaspora living in south Florida.
"Also in order to prevent any embarrassment to the Jamaican diaspora in particular and the football-loving people of Florida in general, we decided to pull out," said the CONCACAF Executive Committee member.
Burrell did not specify the areas where the promoters came up short.
With the Haiti game out the window, Jamaica, ranked 103 by FIFA, will consequently not have a game this month.
But as soon as it appeared that the Haiti (ranked 106) encounter was in doubt, Burrell sprung to action and has already got a commitment from another Caribbean side Barbados (ranked 116) to visit Jamaica for a June 3 match-up.
"We are presently finalising arrangements with the Barbados officials for that game at 'The Office' on Tuesday, June 3," he noted.
He added that all available overseas-based players will be called up for this encounter, and are expected to be in Jamaica for a training camp starting on May 25.
After the Barbados encounter, the full strength Boyz team will depart for Trinidad on June 5, for their return leg encounter with the Soca Warriors two days later. In the first leg of the two-way friendly series, the Boyz and Trinidad drew 2-2 inside the National Stadium in late March.
Shortly after the Trinidad match-up, Jamaica will commence their World Cup qualifying campaign against The Bahamas in Jamaica on June 15 and 18.
Meanwhile, technical director Rene Simoes leaves the island today for the United States in continuation of his scouting of Jamaican players.
Simoes is scheduled to scrutinise players involved in today's Major League Soccer game between Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy, and tomorrow's game between Colorado and DC United.
The Brazilian has already wrapped up his mission in England.
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