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KSAFA boss Stephenson mulls over JFF's top job; calls for pay
BY KAYON RAYNOR Senior staff reporter raynork@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, August 11, 2007
PRESIDENT of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), Ambassador A B Stewart Stephenson has not ruled out entering the race for Jamaica's top football job, following Thursday's announcement by incumbent Crenston Boxhill that he will not be seeking re-election.
STEPHENSON... the country would have to appreciate that that's a full-time job, which needs to be properly resourced in terms of the income to do the job
"A very difficult question... I've always maintained that in terms of the leadership of the (country's) football, I believe that I have all the capabilities, the skills and the experience to lead and I'm sure that we have those who could form a team," Stephenson told Sporting World from Stockholm, Sweden, yesterday in an exclusive interview.
His comments are hot on the heels of Boxhill's revelation that he would not be running for a second term on November 4, when the association's Special General Meeting (Voting Congress) takes place at Sandals Negril Beach Resort.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Stephenson, who is an attorney-at-law by profession, told Sporting World that for him to join the presidential race, serious consideration must be given to compensation, because leading the nation's football is a full-time job.
"...To consider that challenge, the issue of ability, potential and experience is really not a great difficulty for us (me)... the country would have to appreciate that that's a full-time job, which needs to be properly resourced in terms of the income to do the job," said Stephenson, who is currently serving his fourth term as president of the powerful KSAFA confederation following his re-election in September last year, when he defeated current JFF treasurer Rudolph Speid 52-39. He previously served terms as KSAFA boss between 1996 and 2000, and between 2004 and 2006.
Boxhill, who created a major upset by defeating Captain Horace Burrell 54-49 at the last Voting Congress at the Starfish Resort in Trelawny on November 23, 2003 cited "two major concerns", which influenced his decision not to seek re-election as head of the country's governing football body.
The 54-year-old Boxhill hinted that he does not believe the upcoming Congress "will be a level playing field", as Captain Burrell's "sponsorship of majority of the parish associations" will compromise the process, adding that based on the "deep divisions" in the sport and the "most consistent effort at undermining" his administration, he was unsure how realistic it would be to build on the momentum the Federation gained recently.
Captain Burrell, through his Captain's Bakery, is the major sponsor of leagues in at least six parish associations - Manchester, St Ann, Clarendon, St Mary, St Thomas and the Western Confed, which comprises Westmoreland, Hanover, St James and Trelawny - as well as the Knockout competitions in a few of these parish associations.
However, Ambassador Stephenson told Sporting World that he found Boxhill's reasons for withdrawing from the presidential race interesting. "If he is saying that Burrell has really funded so many parish associations and there is literally cash on the ground, then who could compete against Burrell... if that is the explanation, then how many candidates could there be if cash resources is the prior concern," the KSAFA boss asked, noting that he will get a true reading of the situation upon his return to the island via London next Tuesday, August 14. He added that ultimately, candidates must be judged on performance.
In accordance with article 7 (F) of the JFF By-laws, the names of candidates for the presidency, first, second and third vice-presidents, treasurer and ex-officio director (executive officer), all of whom are eligible for re-election, must be submitted by at least three members from three separate parish associations to the general secretary 60 days before the date of the Congress - on or before Wednesday, September 5, 2007. Nominations for the aforementioned positions shall not be accepted on the floor of the Congress.
In the meantime, Boxhill's near four-year tenure has been dogged by divisiveness in the federation and repeated efforts by factions allied to Captain Burrell to oust him, through efforts of 'no confidence' motions.
Following on the fairly successful nine-year reign of Captain Burrell, where the national senior men's team made an historic qualification to the 1998 France FIFA World Cup Finals, followed by the Under-17s in 1999 and the Under-20s in 2001, plus a Caribbean Cup triumph in 1998, Boxhill's administration always faced a difficult task.
His administration managed no qualification to a FIFA World Cup Finals, but Jamaica managed to win the Caribbean Cup, earned an historic silver medal at the recent Pan American Games and went mighty close to qualifying for two women's World Cup Finals at the senior and Under-20 levels.
KSAFA boss Stephenson mulls over JFF's top job; calls for pay
BY KAYON RAYNOR Senior staff reporter raynork@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, August 11, 2007
PRESIDENT of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), Ambassador A B Stewart Stephenson has not ruled out entering the race for Jamaica's top football job, following Thursday's announcement by incumbent Crenston Boxhill that he will not be seeking re-election.
STEPHENSON... the country would have to appreciate that that's a full-time job, which needs to be properly resourced in terms of the income to do the job
"A very difficult question... I've always maintained that in terms of the leadership of the (country's) football, I believe that I have all the capabilities, the skills and the experience to lead and I'm sure that we have those who could form a team," Stephenson told Sporting World from Stockholm, Sweden, yesterday in an exclusive interview.
His comments are hot on the heels of Boxhill's revelation that he would not be running for a second term on November 4, when the association's Special General Meeting (Voting Congress) takes place at Sandals Negril Beach Resort.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Stephenson, who is an attorney-at-law by profession, told Sporting World that for him to join the presidential race, serious consideration must be given to compensation, because leading the nation's football is a full-time job.
"...To consider that challenge, the issue of ability, potential and experience is really not a great difficulty for us (me)... the country would have to appreciate that that's a full-time job, which needs to be properly resourced in terms of the income to do the job," said Stephenson, who is currently serving his fourth term as president of the powerful KSAFA confederation following his re-election in September last year, when he defeated current JFF treasurer Rudolph Speid 52-39. He previously served terms as KSAFA boss between 1996 and 2000, and between 2004 and 2006.
Boxhill, who created a major upset by defeating Captain Horace Burrell 54-49 at the last Voting Congress at the Starfish Resort in Trelawny on November 23, 2003 cited "two major concerns", which influenced his decision not to seek re-election as head of the country's governing football body.
The 54-year-old Boxhill hinted that he does not believe the upcoming Congress "will be a level playing field", as Captain Burrell's "sponsorship of majority of the parish associations" will compromise the process, adding that based on the "deep divisions" in the sport and the "most consistent effort at undermining" his administration, he was unsure how realistic it would be to build on the momentum the Federation gained recently.
Captain Burrell, through his Captain's Bakery, is the major sponsor of leagues in at least six parish associations - Manchester, St Ann, Clarendon, St Mary, St Thomas and the Western Confed, which comprises Westmoreland, Hanover, St James and Trelawny - as well as the Knockout competitions in a few of these parish associations.
However, Ambassador Stephenson told Sporting World that he found Boxhill's reasons for withdrawing from the presidential race interesting. "If he is saying that Burrell has really funded so many parish associations and there is literally cash on the ground, then who could compete against Burrell... if that is the explanation, then how many candidates could there be if cash resources is the prior concern," the KSAFA boss asked, noting that he will get a true reading of the situation upon his return to the island via London next Tuesday, August 14. He added that ultimately, candidates must be judged on performance.
In accordance with article 7 (F) of the JFF By-laws, the names of candidates for the presidency, first, second and third vice-presidents, treasurer and ex-officio director (executive officer), all of whom are eligible for re-election, must be submitted by at least three members from three separate parish associations to the general secretary 60 days before the date of the Congress - on or before Wednesday, September 5, 2007. Nominations for the aforementioned positions shall not be accepted on the floor of the Congress.
In the meantime, Boxhill's near four-year tenure has been dogged by divisiveness in the federation and repeated efforts by factions allied to Captain Burrell to oust him, through efforts of 'no confidence' motions.
Following on the fairly successful nine-year reign of Captain Burrell, where the national senior men's team made an historic qualification to the 1998 France FIFA World Cup Finals, followed by the Under-17s in 1999 and the Under-20s in 2001, plus a Caribbean Cup triumph in 1998, Boxhill's administration always faced a difficult task.
His administration managed no qualification to a FIFA World Cup Finals, but Jamaica managed to win the Caribbean Cup, earned an historic silver medal at the recent Pan American Games and went mighty close to qualifying for two women's World Cup Finals at the senior and Under-20 levels.
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