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Boyz ultimatum! - Ja players’ demands put Cup game in doubt
Reggae Boyz game against Guadeloupe in doubt
IAN BURNETT @ THE DIGICEL CARIBBEAN CUP in Martinique
Monday, November 29, 2010
SAINTE-LUCE, Martinique — Jamaicans were up to press time last night left sweating over whether the Reggae Boyz would honour their 2010 Digicel Caribbean Cup fixture against Guadeloupe after the militant players gave the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) an ultimatum of agreeing to their financial demands or risk them not taking the field here at the Rivierre Pilote Sports Complex tonight.
The players have asked for US$1,200 in per diem, as well as 80 per cent of whatever winning prize monies for the 12-day tournament, in lieu of appearance, match and win bonus fees, which generally amounts to much more in incentives.
However, they told the media here last night that during a near one-hour meeting with JFF president Captain Horace Burrell inside the changing room after their victory over Antigua and Barbuda on Saturday night, they were told that all the federation could afford was US$500 in per diem, plus the 80 per cent winning prize.
The first place prize money for the Digicel Caribbean Cup is US$120,000, and Jamaica are well on their way needing a win today to cement their place in the semi-finals.
"We told them we won't lace up unless our requests are met," captain Shavar Thomas, one of four senior players who met with the media last night, said.
Thomas was accompanied by Luton Shelton, Rodolph Austin and Jermaine Taylor.
A team bus had come to the hotel to take the players to a training venue at 6:30 pm, but after waiting for over 40 minutes, the team's liaison officer ordered the bus to leave after she was told by members of the team that there would be no training session.
However, the Boyz had a loosening up exercise shortly after on the hotel grounds.
Head of delegation Raymond Anderson told the media immediately after their meeting with the selected players that JFF general secretary Horace Reid was scheduled to arrive at the hotel for a meeting with the entire delegation, for which the media was invited.
"The general secretary is coming here in a short while," Anderson said.
He added: "Whatever we are doing we have to do it tonight. If we are going home then that has to be decided tonight... if there is a resolution, it must be tonight."
Thomas and his senior players in explaining how they arrived at their ultimatum, said the players have been asked for the past 18 months to make a sacrifice due to the financial circumstances.
He said they have done so willingly, but they believe it is now time for the JFF to give up something, though they are cognizant of the harsh economic climate.
"Ever since the fiasco of the last Gold Cup we have been playing internationals underpaid and under compensated, going far and wide without per diem, and before this tournament they asked us to make the same sacrifice again after about 12 games.
"We had a meeting with the general secretary and I personally asked him if the JFF can extend themselves to the players this time around. He asked me if I knew that the JFF had the money and was not paying us, so I said I believe the JFF doesn't have the money but I believe the JFF should extend itself and make the sacrifice this time around," Thomas revealed, explaining that they the players had done it for 12 games, so the JFF could do it for this tournament.
The players said they were not doing it for the money, as the only guarantee was the US$1,200, which is not a lot for most of them, but they want to be the group that takes a serious stand in how the players are treated by the JFF.
"We might be the last of the Mohicans," Thomas said. "There are a lot of younger player who are based at home who might need it more than us, but some of them have children and they need it," Austin added.
At press time Captain Burrell and Horace Reid had arrived at the hotel and started their meeting with the players, no doubt in a bid to avert any embarrassment, but the players had suggested that they would be mentally focused and prepared to play today if their demands were met.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz16fl5coSh
Reggae Boyz game against Guadeloupe in doubt
IAN BURNETT @ THE DIGICEL CARIBBEAN CUP in Martinique
Monday, November 29, 2010
SAINTE-LUCE, Martinique — Jamaicans were up to press time last night left sweating over whether the Reggae Boyz would honour their 2010 Digicel Caribbean Cup fixture against Guadeloupe after the militant players gave the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) an ultimatum of agreeing to their financial demands or risk them not taking the field here at the Rivierre Pilote Sports Complex tonight.
The players have asked for US$1,200 in per diem, as well as 80 per cent of whatever winning prize monies for the 12-day tournament, in lieu of appearance, match and win bonus fees, which generally amounts to much more in incentives.
However, they told the media here last night that during a near one-hour meeting with JFF president Captain Horace Burrell inside the changing room after their victory over Antigua and Barbuda on Saturday night, they were told that all the federation could afford was US$500 in per diem, plus the 80 per cent winning prize.
The first place prize money for the Digicel Caribbean Cup is US$120,000, and Jamaica are well on their way needing a win today to cement their place in the semi-finals.
"We told them we won't lace up unless our requests are met," captain Shavar Thomas, one of four senior players who met with the media last night, said.
Thomas was accompanied by Luton Shelton, Rodolph Austin and Jermaine Taylor.
A team bus had come to the hotel to take the players to a training venue at 6:30 pm, but after waiting for over 40 minutes, the team's liaison officer ordered the bus to leave after she was told by members of the team that there would be no training session.
However, the Boyz had a loosening up exercise shortly after on the hotel grounds.
Head of delegation Raymond Anderson told the media immediately after their meeting with the selected players that JFF general secretary Horace Reid was scheduled to arrive at the hotel for a meeting with the entire delegation, for which the media was invited.
"The general secretary is coming here in a short while," Anderson said.
He added: "Whatever we are doing we have to do it tonight. If we are going home then that has to be decided tonight... if there is a resolution, it must be tonight."
Thomas and his senior players in explaining how they arrived at their ultimatum, said the players have been asked for the past 18 months to make a sacrifice due to the financial circumstances.
He said they have done so willingly, but they believe it is now time for the JFF to give up something, though they are cognizant of the harsh economic climate.
"Ever since the fiasco of the last Gold Cup we have been playing internationals underpaid and under compensated, going far and wide without per diem, and before this tournament they asked us to make the same sacrifice again after about 12 games.
"We had a meeting with the general secretary and I personally asked him if the JFF can extend themselves to the players this time around. He asked me if I knew that the JFF had the money and was not paying us, so I said I believe the JFF doesn't have the money but I believe the JFF should extend itself and make the sacrifice this time around," Thomas revealed, explaining that they the players had done it for 12 games, so the JFF could do it for this tournament.
The players said they were not doing it for the money, as the only guarantee was the US$1,200, which is not a lot for most of them, but they want to be the group that takes a serious stand in how the players are treated by the JFF.
"We might be the last of the Mohicans," Thomas said. "There are a lot of younger player who are based at home who might need it more than us, but some of them have children and they need it," Austin added.
At press time Captain Burrell and Horace Reid had arrived at the hotel and started their meeting with the players, no doubt in a bid to avert any embarrassment, but the players had suggested that they would be mentally focused and prepared to play today if their demands were met.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz16fl5coSh
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