BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON CRENSTON BOXHILL
By Richard Bryan, Special Assistant
By Richard Bryan, Special Assistant
Much about Crenston Boxhill makes him easily recognized as the President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). Football is by far the most publicized sport in Jamaica, ensuring that his position is very high profile. Physically, he is towering – with his boxer-like built, but the measure of his appeal extends with grace, from his clean shaved forehead, elegantly suited profile, his inviting smile, but nonetheless warm, humble and sociable disposition.
Here is a brief insight into his dribble towards the top post of the most popular sport in his country:
He represented Vere Technical at one of the most decorated schools in the golden period for sports between the 1960s and 70s. In the late 1960s, he was a member of the school’s victorious Football and Cricket (which he sometimes confess is his first love). A few years later, following the completion of studies from a Scholarship obtained from the Government of Jamaica in Canada, Boxhill secured employment as an Auto Mechanic Instructor at his Alma Mata. He was then able to achieve further success for Vere, but this time as Manager of the school teams in both sports.
Professionally, he is a Senior Certified Island Traffic Inspector, having served for nearly 30 years. He is presently on secondment from the Ministry of Transport and Works to complete his tenure (whenever that ends?) as President of the JFF.
His quest for personal development saw him completing a Certificate Programme in Public Administration at the University of the West Indies in 2001.
His rise to the echelon of power and influence in the sport was laid by successful stints as President of three different Parish Football Associations – Westmoreland, Manchester and Clarendon (in that order). (a distinction which has stood unequaled).
Prior to his elevation as President, he was also a member of the Management Committee of the JFF by virtue of serving as Chairman of the South Central Confederation, the regional body that oversees the affairs of the four parish associations of that region of Jamaica.
As the longest serving Manager of the National Football Senior and Junior teams – having served in that capacity for the most part of the decade of the 1990s, his rapport with the current members of the team is exceptional, and has helped to forged better links of understanding between that grouping and the Federation. He was the Manager of the historic Jamaica team which qualified for the World Cup Finals in 1998.
Whilst it is his Administration’s goal to qualify for the Senior World Cup finals, his golden aim would be to see the inauguration of a fully funded and comprehensive National Youth Development Programme, encompassing Age 10 to 23 (Olympic) both male and female.
As his resume suggests, anything is achievable.
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