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UWI is a much better location for the 'Academy' than either Portmore or Malvern. Hopefully, things move forward quickly.
From www.jamaicaobserver.com
Academy approved
FIFA ratifies funds to get UWI project going
BY Andre Lowe Observer staff reporter lowea@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, August 28, 2009
Six years after ground was initially broken in Portmore, St Catherine, for the construction of a football academy by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), work on the controversial project is finally set to get under way as FIFA recently approved a second disbursement of US$400,000 to the JFF under its Goal Project.
Construction of the Academy, which will be established on the campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, is expected to start before the end of this year, with Phase One scheduled for completion within three months.
JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell, who met with FIFA president Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter in Zurich, Switzerland, late last week to iron out the details of the project, confirmed the developments during
a discussion with the Observer.
Said Burrell: "I'm very happy to report that the meeting that I had in Zurich with President Blatter about the Academy went extremely well."
Essentially, FIFA has allowed the JFF to convert the ill-fated proposal for an academy in Malvern, St Elizabeth - which was being pursued by the previous administration - to the UWI project which will commence once certain paperwork is forwarded to the world governing body.
"As it is right now we have been requested to forward to FIFA the contract for signing. That is all that is really outstanding at this point. Of course, there are one or two small things to be done, but FIFA has given us the green light to go ahead with our project at the University (of the West Indies, Mona)," Burrell revealed.
The JFF will now move to get the necessary engineering and construction details drafted so that the project can be put to tender as soon as possible, and Burrell stressed that the funds will be placed directly into the hands of whichever contractor is chosen to carry out the project.
"We will be putting forward the contract for signing and, as soon as that is done, then the first US$400,000 will be released. The funds will not be released to the JFF, it is going to be released to the contractors that will be selected to undertake the project at UWI," he confirmed.
Phase One of the project is expected to include the resurfacing of a number of playing fields at UWI and the installation of first-rate irrigation systems.
This stage will also see the erection of perimeter fencing and the construction of restrooms and changing room facilities.
Phase Two of the project, which is expected to get under way in April 2010, will entail the construction of dormitory facilities, among other amenities.
According to Burrell, "I expect to commence Phase One of the project before year-end and it should not take more than another three months after that for it to be completed. So by March of next year Phase One should be behind us.
"That would be tremendous because it has been years since we have been waiting and based on the amount of issues that we have had with the changes, and so on, it's great to see that we're finally moving forward," he added.
After breaking ground for an Academy in Portmore in 2003, the site was later moved to Malvern after the Crenston Boxhill-led administration that wrested power from Burrell during that year's AGM deemed the Portmore site unsuitable for such a project.
Another administration change in 2007 saw the site moved yet again - this time to the UWI campus. However, FIFA had originally requested that the JFF dispense with the Malvern property before a second disbursement was made.
From www.jamaicaobserver.com
Academy approved
FIFA ratifies funds to get UWI project going
BY Andre Lowe Observer staff reporter lowea@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, August 28, 2009
Six years after ground was initially broken in Portmore, St Catherine, for the construction of a football academy by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), work on the controversial project is finally set to get under way as FIFA recently approved a second disbursement of US$400,000 to the JFF under its Goal Project.
Construction of the Academy, which will be established on the campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, is expected to start before the end of this year, with Phase One scheduled for completion within three months.
JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell, who met with FIFA president Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter in Zurich, Switzerland, late last week to iron out the details of the project, confirmed the developments during
a discussion with the Observer.
Said Burrell: "I'm very happy to report that the meeting that I had in Zurich with President Blatter about the Academy went extremely well."
Essentially, FIFA has allowed the JFF to convert the ill-fated proposal for an academy in Malvern, St Elizabeth - which was being pursued by the previous administration - to the UWI project which will commence once certain paperwork is forwarded to the world governing body.
"As it is right now we have been requested to forward to FIFA the contract for signing. That is all that is really outstanding at this point. Of course, there are one or two small things to be done, but FIFA has given us the green light to go ahead with our project at the University (of the West Indies, Mona)," Burrell revealed.
The JFF will now move to get the necessary engineering and construction details drafted so that the project can be put to tender as soon as possible, and Burrell stressed that the funds will be placed directly into the hands of whichever contractor is chosen to carry out the project.
"We will be putting forward the contract for signing and, as soon as that is done, then the first US$400,000 will be released. The funds will not be released to the JFF, it is going to be released to the contractors that will be selected to undertake the project at UWI," he confirmed.
Phase One of the project is expected to include the resurfacing of a number of playing fields at UWI and the installation of first-rate irrigation systems.
This stage will also see the erection of perimeter fencing and the construction of restrooms and changing room facilities.
Phase Two of the project, which is expected to get under way in April 2010, will entail the construction of dormitory facilities, among other amenities.
According to Burrell, "I expect to commence Phase One of the project before year-end and it should not take more than another three months after that for it to be completed. So by March of next year Phase One should be behind us.
"That would be tremendous because it has been years since we have been waiting and based on the amount of issues that we have had with the changes, and so on, it's great to see that we're finally moving forward," he added.
After breaking ground for an Academy in Portmore in 2003, the site was later moved to Malvern after the Crenston Boxhill-led administration that wrested power from Burrell during that year's AGM deemed the Portmore site unsuitable for such a project.
Another administration change in 2007 saw the site moved yet again - this time to the UWI campus. However, FIFA had originally requested that the JFF dispense with the Malvern property before a second disbursement was made.
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