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The JFF needs to soften its touch
ON THE SPORTING EDGE
PAUL REID
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Maybe I am a bit slow but some thing about the recent release from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) regarding the action to be taken against the St James High duo of Allan Ottey and Ricardo Morris makes no sense to me.
The talented footballers were among a number of Under-20 players invited to join the senior national team in a week-long training camp but they have said 'no thanks' as they have more important things to do, specifically catching up on schoolwork.
The JFF had responded in a heavy-handed manner, suggesting that neither player be allowed to take part in any organised football including daCosta Cup.
The national team was preparing for a Friendly International against Costa Rica in Florida which was played yesterday as well as the Digicel Caribbean Championships later this month.
The St James High's headmaster wrote to the JFF requesting that both Morris and Ottey be excluded from the camp as they were falling behind in schoolwork and had missed considerable time from school. He claimed that it could also prevent the two students from taking part in graduation, a rite of passage for any high school student.
On the surface there seems nothing wrong with the request from St James High since the players had missed time from school to train and travel with the National Under-20 team to a Caribbean Football Union (CFU) event in Guyana recently.
The JFF's reaction is unfortunate, vindictive and bordering on being vulgar as it comes across as trying to punish the players for looking out for their own good.
Being invited to represent your country in any sport at any level is an honour but the invitee does have the right to say "no thank you". It is not like conscription to serve in the armed forces in some countries where the citizens have no choice.
In the past, schoolboys have been known to say "no thank you" to the JFF. As recently as 2007, Cornwall College schoolboy Edward Campbell turned down a call to travel with the Olympic football team for a CFU Olympic qualifying tournament in Haiti.
Then, Campbell was an important player on the team and would have made a big difference. Now, it is unlikely that either of these was being seriously considered for the national team and their absence, to me, is neither here nor there.
Then again this is the same JFF that had pulled another Cornwall College schoolboy, Dane Richards out of school for a meaningless two-match series against India in London a few years ago.
Even if the JFF does not believe the St James High principal that the reasons he gave were the real ones, the boys should be allowed to represent their school in crucial Inter-zone games.
The team made the sacrifice and allowed them to travel to Guyana earlier in the season. They missed three daCosta Cup Zone A games at that time. But given their worth to the team, they are needed at this crucial juncture.
The JFF needs to understand the situation and be less heavy handed.
The JFF needs to soften its touch
ON THE SPORTING EDGE
PAUL REID
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Maybe I am a bit slow but some thing about the recent release from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) regarding the action to be taken against the St James High duo of Allan Ottey and Ricardo Morris makes no sense to me.
The talented footballers were among a number of Under-20 players invited to join the senior national team in a week-long training camp but they have said 'no thanks' as they have more important things to do, specifically catching up on schoolwork.
The JFF had responded in a heavy-handed manner, suggesting that neither player be allowed to take part in any organised football including daCosta Cup.
The national team was preparing for a Friendly International against Costa Rica in Florida which was played yesterday as well as the Digicel Caribbean Championships later this month.
The St James High's headmaster wrote to the JFF requesting that both Morris and Ottey be excluded from the camp as they were falling behind in schoolwork and had missed considerable time from school. He claimed that it could also prevent the two students from taking part in graduation, a rite of passage for any high school student.
On the surface there seems nothing wrong with the request from St James High since the players had missed time from school to train and travel with the National Under-20 team to a Caribbean Football Union (CFU) event in Guyana recently.
The JFF's reaction is unfortunate, vindictive and bordering on being vulgar as it comes across as trying to punish the players for looking out for their own good.
Being invited to represent your country in any sport at any level is an honour but the invitee does have the right to say "no thank you". It is not like conscription to serve in the armed forces in some countries where the citizens have no choice.
In the past, schoolboys have been known to say "no thank you" to the JFF. As recently as 2007, Cornwall College schoolboy Edward Campbell turned down a call to travel with the Olympic football team for a CFU Olympic qualifying tournament in Haiti.
Then, Campbell was an important player on the team and would have made a big difference. Now, it is unlikely that either of these was being seriously considered for the national team and their absence, to me, is neither here nor there.
Then again this is the same JFF that had pulled another Cornwall College schoolboy, Dane Richards out of school for a meaningless two-match series against India in London a few years ago.
Even if the JFF does not believe the St James High principal that the reasons he gave were the real ones, the boys should be allowed to represent their school in crucial Inter-zone games.
The team made the sacrifice and allowed them to travel to Guyana earlier in the season. They missed three daCosta Cup Zone A games at that time. But given their worth to the team, they are needed at this crucial juncture.
The JFF needs to understand the situation and be less heavy handed.
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