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Reid lashes JFF 'stick-up' in Martinique
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor
Sunday, December 19, 2010
GENERAL secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Horace Reid, came out swinging recently when he accused the 'Bad Boyz' of Jamaica's football of offering "illogical reasons" behind their ultimatum to the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) at the Digicel Caribbean Cup in Martinique recently.
Reid, chairman of CONCACAF's Administration Committee, expressed disappointment with the ring leaders who claimed that 'sticking up' the federation for more money was a cause taken up on behalf of the local-based players — suggesting the latter has no bargaining capital or voice.
THOMAS... spokesman for Reggae Boyz
1/1
But Reid is buying none of it.
"I was so disappointed with the course of action, as the argument posited was not logical as this thing about taking action in support of local-based players is absolute rubbish," said Reid, speaking a day after the JFF Board of Directors unanimously agreed to a wide-range plan of action to prevent a recurrence of the "ugly incident" in the future.
"We need to stop hiding behind this kind of argument when we do things. The fact is that if there was a genuine concern by the local contingent of players, not participating and representing the country on that stage where they can be seen would be a greater disservice to their well-being and their future," he added.
The national team is seen as a source of opportunity for young, hungry players looking to break onto the international stage, so Reid can't see why these players would jeopardise this by squabbling over pittance.
"This is the same stage that has allowed others who are now earning substantial sums to the point where the fees paid by the JFF is seen as 'small' or 'chicken feed'... therefore it would be non-sensical to be arguing over small amounts when there is a bigger picture for one to represent his country and at the same time to be on a stage where there could be opportunities," said Reid, also a FIFA stadium inspector and administration lecturer.
During the Digicel Cup stand-off, the Boyz — through their spokesmen, team captain Shavar Thomas, Luton Shelton, Rodolph Austin and Jermaine Taylor — refused the JFF's offer of US$500 (J$43,000) in total per diem for the 12-day tournament.
They instead demanded US$100 (J$8,600) per diem, which would have amounted to US$1,200 (J$102,000) over the duration of the tournament.
Thomas and his henchmen further demanded 80 per cent of whatever monies the team won in prizes, which turned out to be the championship bounty of US$120,000 (J$10.2 million). Jamaica defended the regional title after defeating Guadeloupe 5-4 on penalties.
JFF president Captain Horace Burrell, who negotiated with the up-in-arms Boyz, had to back off as his opponents held their ground.
Faced with a threat by the players not to "lace up" for their second group game against Guadeloupe after an opening win over Antigua, Burrell yielded to the demands, which came at a personal sacrifice for the former army man.
Burrell, to prevent further "embarrassment to Jamaica", had to dig into his own pocket for US$14,000 (J$1.2 million) to offset the shortfall in meeting the additional per diems.
In justifying their actions, the players claimed they had made great personal sacrifice for the Federation over a spell and it was time for the governing body to reciprocate.
The players claimed they had played some 12 games for significantly reduced pay, and did so because they understood the JFF had no money.
A new four-year contract offered to players, said to be "very reasonable and attractive", is aimed at formalising the players' terms of employment and remuneration, and which would guard against a recurrence of the Martinique affair. All senior players have until December 30 to sign and return the contract.
"This contract is not to be confused with what happens at the level of the clubs... what this contract does is from day one establish the level of compensation and expectation in as so far as the behaviour of players are concerned," Reid told the Sunday Observer.
"What the JFF is seeking to do is to bring order and stability to a situation that has become untenable and has gotten out of control," he added.
Meanwhile, Reid reminded that the programme of the JFF does not stop with the senior men's team, though it is true that it's the bread-winner for the nine national teams on the roster.
"The JFF's responsibility goes beyond the senior national team. We have to be mindful of the wider responsibility of the federation which includes developing referees, coaches and administrators. There is a much broader responsibility that incurs a significant cost that the JFF cannot ignore," he noted.
"The developmental aspect is also critical in sustaining our programme over long periods and we cannot ignore an investment in our younger players... the federation cannot continue down the road where we spend more than we earn, it cannot continue to be taking all the funds and pumping into the senior programme by giving it away to the players," said a peeved Reid.
As an example of the costs involved in preparing teams at the "grassroots level", the JFF's top administrative figure cited the Under-17s currently in Brazil on a three-week training and development camp, with a plan to extend to six weeks. This exercise to prepare the team for the CONCACAF World Cup qualification tournament to be staged in western Jamaica in February next year, could cost a cash-starved federation neary $15 million over six weeks, according to Reid.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz18ZAEZj00
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor
Sunday, December 19, 2010
GENERAL secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Horace Reid, came out swinging recently when he accused the 'Bad Boyz' of Jamaica's football of offering "illogical reasons" behind their ultimatum to the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) at the Digicel Caribbean Cup in Martinique recently.
Reid, chairman of CONCACAF's Administration Committee, expressed disappointment with the ring leaders who claimed that 'sticking up' the federation for more money was a cause taken up on behalf of the local-based players — suggesting the latter has no bargaining capital or voice.
THOMAS... spokesman for Reggae Boyz
1/1
But Reid is buying none of it.
"I was so disappointed with the course of action, as the argument posited was not logical as this thing about taking action in support of local-based players is absolute rubbish," said Reid, speaking a day after the JFF Board of Directors unanimously agreed to a wide-range plan of action to prevent a recurrence of the "ugly incident" in the future.
"We need to stop hiding behind this kind of argument when we do things. The fact is that if there was a genuine concern by the local contingent of players, not participating and representing the country on that stage where they can be seen would be a greater disservice to their well-being and their future," he added.
The national team is seen as a source of opportunity for young, hungry players looking to break onto the international stage, so Reid can't see why these players would jeopardise this by squabbling over pittance.
"This is the same stage that has allowed others who are now earning substantial sums to the point where the fees paid by the JFF is seen as 'small' or 'chicken feed'... therefore it would be non-sensical to be arguing over small amounts when there is a bigger picture for one to represent his country and at the same time to be on a stage where there could be opportunities," said Reid, also a FIFA stadium inspector and administration lecturer.
During the Digicel Cup stand-off, the Boyz — through their spokesmen, team captain Shavar Thomas, Luton Shelton, Rodolph Austin and Jermaine Taylor — refused the JFF's offer of US$500 (J$43,000) in total per diem for the 12-day tournament.
They instead demanded US$100 (J$8,600) per diem, which would have amounted to US$1,200 (J$102,000) over the duration of the tournament.
Thomas and his henchmen further demanded 80 per cent of whatever monies the team won in prizes, which turned out to be the championship bounty of US$120,000 (J$10.2 million). Jamaica defended the regional title after defeating Guadeloupe 5-4 on penalties.
JFF president Captain Horace Burrell, who negotiated with the up-in-arms Boyz, had to back off as his opponents held their ground.
Faced with a threat by the players not to "lace up" for their second group game against Guadeloupe after an opening win over Antigua, Burrell yielded to the demands, which came at a personal sacrifice for the former army man.
Burrell, to prevent further "embarrassment to Jamaica", had to dig into his own pocket for US$14,000 (J$1.2 million) to offset the shortfall in meeting the additional per diems.
In justifying their actions, the players claimed they had made great personal sacrifice for the Federation over a spell and it was time for the governing body to reciprocate.
The players claimed they had played some 12 games for significantly reduced pay, and did so because they understood the JFF had no money.
A new four-year contract offered to players, said to be "very reasonable and attractive", is aimed at formalising the players' terms of employment and remuneration, and which would guard against a recurrence of the Martinique affair. All senior players have until December 30 to sign and return the contract.
"This contract is not to be confused with what happens at the level of the clubs... what this contract does is from day one establish the level of compensation and expectation in as so far as the behaviour of players are concerned," Reid told the Sunday Observer.
"What the JFF is seeking to do is to bring order and stability to a situation that has become untenable and has gotten out of control," he added.
Meanwhile, Reid reminded that the programme of the JFF does not stop with the senior men's team, though it is true that it's the bread-winner for the nine national teams on the roster.
"The JFF's responsibility goes beyond the senior national team. We have to be mindful of the wider responsibility of the federation which includes developing referees, coaches and administrators. There is a much broader responsibility that incurs a significant cost that the JFF cannot ignore," he noted.
"The developmental aspect is also critical in sustaining our programme over long periods and we cannot ignore an investment in our younger players... the federation cannot continue down the road where we spend more than we earn, it cannot continue to be taking all the funds and pumping into the senior programme by giving it away to the players," said a peeved Reid.
As an example of the costs involved in preparing teams at the "grassroots level", the JFF's top administrative figure cited the Under-17s currently in Brazil on a three-week training and development camp, with a plan to extend to six weeks. This exercise to prepare the team for the CONCACAF World Cup qualification tournament to be staged in western Jamaica in February next year, could cost a cash-starved federation neary $15 million over six weeks, according to Reid.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz18ZAEZj00
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