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Burrell says JFF causing deterioration of local game
BY PAUL A REID Observer writer
Sunday, June 10, 2007
WHITE HOUSE, St James - Local football administrators have lost their way and have facilitated "the total decay of the football structure", says former JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell. According to the outspoken Burell, if the present JFF administration continues in office, Jamaica can forget about qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
In addressing Thursday night's Awards Ceremony of the St James FA Sandals Division One at Sandals White House, Burrell - who took time off from Gold Cup duties in Miami to speak at the function - said the state of the local game has been allowed to deteriorate, but "we can't sit back and allow the destruction of the sport to continue".
In heaping a scathing attack on the JFF, the former army officer who headed the Federation for nine year, ending in November 2003, is counting down the days to the next voting Congress to be held in Hanover in November.
"In exactly 151 days... the JFF will have a voting Congress and as such there will have to be a new mandate", Burrell declared.
He argued that while democracy was important, "people must recognise when those entrusted with a job are not able to do it".
Burrell bemoaned Jamaica's failure to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup after being beaten in the first round of the Digicel Caribbean Cup hosted here at the National Stadium.
Jamaica's loss against Guadeloupe and Haiti, Burrell said, would not have been contemplated a few years ago when the National Senior team defended their home ground against all and sundry.
"Years ago, no one wanted to play us here... now everyone wants to play us here," Burrell said.
Burrell said participation at the Gold Cup would have greatly enhanced Jamaica's preparation for the World Cup qualifiers next year. He also defended the youth programme under his watch, which saw the Under-17 and Under-20 teams qualifying for their respective FIFA age-group championships in 1999 and 2000.
He cited Jamaica winning the Under-17 CONCACAF Finals played in Montego Bay in 1999, qualifying ahead of the United States and compared it to the recent tournament where Jamaica finished last out of five teams, with three places up for grabs.
"This youth programme we hear about is a myth," Burrell said.
Burrell also criticised the way technical director Bora Milutinovic is being used, arguing that the Serb needs to get more involved with the youth teams.
With the US$1m a year Milutinovic is reportedly earning, Burrell said the former should be "properly managed" or it would been "a waste of time" having him here.
He said the experienced Milutinovic "should not have been anywhere else but on the bench" for both qualifying tournaments this year.
The former JFF boss criticised the decision to use local David Hunt, saying we should stop this "nonsense of David Hunt on Fire" and put the high-priced coach to work.
Burrell said he had no problem with Bora's price tag as he recognised the man's pedigree, adding that good coaches will cost a lot of money.
He also commended the government and the private sector for their involvement in the acquisition of Milutinovic, who has helped qualify five teams to World Cup Finals.
BY PAUL A REID Observer writer
Sunday, June 10, 2007
WHITE HOUSE, St James - Local football administrators have lost their way and have facilitated "the total decay of the football structure", says former JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell. According to the outspoken Burell, if the present JFF administration continues in office, Jamaica can forget about qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
In addressing Thursday night's Awards Ceremony of the St James FA Sandals Division One at Sandals White House, Burrell - who took time off from Gold Cup duties in Miami to speak at the function - said the state of the local game has been allowed to deteriorate, but "we can't sit back and allow the destruction of the sport to continue".
In heaping a scathing attack on the JFF, the former army officer who headed the Federation for nine year, ending in November 2003, is counting down the days to the next voting Congress to be held in Hanover in November.
"In exactly 151 days... the JFF will have a voting Congress and as such there will have to be a new mandate", Burrell declared.
He argued that while democracy was important, "people must recognise when those entrusted with a job are not able to do it".
Burrell bemoaned Jamaica's failure to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup after being beaten in the first round of the Digicel Caribbean Cup hosted here at the National Stadium.
Jamaica's loss against Guadeloupe and Haiti, Burrell said, would not have been contemplated a few years ago when the National Senior team defended their home ground against all and sundry.
"Years ago, no one wanted to play us here... now everyone wants to play us here," Burrell said.
Burrell said participation at the Gold Cup would have greatly enhanced Jamaica's preparation for the World Cup qualifiers next year. He also defended the youth programme under his watch, which saw the Under-17 and Under-20 teams qualifying for their respective FIFA age-group championships in 1999 and 2000.
He cited Jamaica winning the Under-17 CONCACAF Finals played in Montego Bay in 1999, qualifying ahead of the United States and compared it to the recent tournament where Jamaica finished last out of five teams, with three places up for grabs.
"This youth programme we hear about is a myth," Burrell said.
Burrell also criticised the way technical director Bora Milutinovic is being used, arguing that the Serb needs to get more involved with the youth teams.
With the US$1m a year Milutinovic is reportedly earning, Burrell said the former should be "properly managed" or it would been "a waste of time" having him here.
He said the experienced Milutinovic "should not have been anywhere else but on the bench" for both qualifying tournaments this year.
The former JFF boss criticised the decision to use local David Hunt, saying we should stop this "nonsense of David Hunt on Fire" and put the high-priced coach to work.
Burrell said he had no problem with Bora's price tag as he recognised the man's pedigree, adding that good coaches will cost a lot of money.
He also commended the government and the private sector for their involvement in the acquisition of Milutinovic, who has helped qualify five teams to World Cup Finals.
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