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Published on June 4, 2020
Machel Turner
Sports Management Professional
Jamaican men’s football, as we all know, is in a perpetual state of ‘World Cup or Die’. Ever since that historic day in November 1997 at the National Stadium and the Reggae Boyz’ subsequent introduction to the world in the summer of 1998, no other achievement has been good enough for the men’s team.
Over the past few days I have begun to wonder if Jamaica reaching Qatar 2022 is ultimately a good thing. If we get to the World Cup…then what happens after that?
The past tells a tale
If the stories of France 1998 and France 2019 are anything to go by, it is clear that the aftermath of any World Cup berth will bring a whole pile of nothing. The two reasons for this are misuse of the financial resources forthcoming from the private sector and FIFA after qualification and the tournament itself, and the lack of a real development structure. Each one feeds the other as the lack of strategic decision making in how to allocate funds for the advancement in clubs, competitions, facilities and education lead to poor development structures which make it hard to repeat the feat of reaching a World Cup.
At the time of qualification in 1997, there was no talent development structure to speak of, a point alluded to by then coach Simoes in his comment about the qualification being tantamount to roofing a house without building its foundation. The previous 3-4 years had seen high levels of buy in and investment from the private sector to achieve the goal, however the vast majority of these funds were used to ensure multiple camps for the team and as many friendly fixtures as possible. While players at the national team level during those years were able to improve their skills, the remainder of Jamaica’s players in the Premier League and below were subject to the same poor standards that they had always been dealing with.
Post qualification, the corporate support grew even more, and with funding from FIFA for qualification and participation, it would have been logical to assume that this money would be pumped into the Jamaican footballing pyramid. However the development of grassroots programs to harness the talent of all the youngsters already playing and newly attracted to the sport, the creation of talent identification systems and competitions to find and develop the very best of these players for future national teams, improved learning opportunities for coaches and referees to build themselves and improved club support structures to raise the level of football played in the nation’s highest league, were all neglected. The opportunity to put in place frameworks contributing to the efficient harnessing of the nation’s football talent to achieve its potential was not taken, which has led to the current 22 year wander in the wilderness.
A similar story unfolded as private sector sponsors flocked the Reggae Girlz after their November 2018 qualification. Multiple partnerships were announced in the media to great fanfare, though the length and amount of these was not highlighted. It is clear now, almost a year after the Girlz’s trek in France, that the financial gains made during this period were not put to good use. Programs to attract young girls to the sport and provide them with adequate coaching and competitions have not even been proposed, while the game of “will it or wont it happen” surrounding the nation’s Women’s League continues.
The absurd lack of planning and foresight to build on the achievement and grow the women’s game in Jamaica is there for all to see and will be a definitive contributor to future failures to achieve the high- water mark again. The saving grace for that team is that most of the players are of the age to take part in at least another cycle before a fresh injection of talent would be needed. However the JFF’s complete disregard for the Reggae Girlz after last summer (including still owing them money) has probably also contributed to a lack of desire in some of them, and the coming generations, to be a part of the national team set up.
The current crop
As for the current Reggae Boyz? On paper, I do believe they have a good chance at World Cup Qualification in this cycle but we will have to see what format is adopted for World Cup qualification post- Covid. However the question remains: what happens after that?
Talk (as usual) about professionalising the Red Stripe Premier League has again popped up. However, the continued absence of a grassroots system that adequately equips all players learning the game combined with a non- existent talent identification and high performance framework means Jamaican talent will only continue to trickle through to make this league viable. The clubs still lack the money needed to properly sustain high level football and the fans will not be interested in seeing a simple re- branded product that is no better than the previous because the talent is no better. Schoolboy football exists but that is simply a glorified extra- curricular activity which will never prepare enough local football talent to be globally competitive.
Is it worth it?
If we cannot commit to strategically developing structures, programs and competitions that will efficiently develop globally competitive footballers there is no point in getting to a World Cup. It would just be another false dawn. The JFF is currently unable to attract partnerships because it cannot be trusted to utilise funds efficiently, and it would take faith of the highest order to believe that any funds forthcoming from potential qualification will be used differently.
So other than boosting our ego and more publicity, would Jamaican football benefit from World Cup qualification in real terms? Unfortunately, the evidence says not.
Machel Turner
Sports Management Professional
Jamaican men’s football, as we all know, is in a perpetual state of ‘World Cup or Die’. Ever since that historic day in November 1997 at the National Stadium and the Reggae Boyz’ subsequent introduction to the world in the summer of 1998, no other achievement has been good enough for the men’s team.
Over the past few days I have begun to wonder if Jamaica reaching Qatar 2022 is ultimately a good thing. If we get to the World Cup…then what happens after that?
The past tells a tale
If the stories of France 1998 and France 2019 are anything to go by, it is clear that the aftermath of any World Cup berth will bring a whole pile of nothing. The two reasons for this are misuse of the financial resources forthcoming from the private sector and FIFA after qualification and the tournament itself, and the lack of a real development structure. Each one feeds the other as the lack of strategic decision making in how to allocate funds for the advancement in clubs, competitions, facilities and education lead to poor development structures which make it hard to repeat the feat of reaching a World Cup.
At the time of qualification in 1997, there was no talent development structure to speak of, a point alluded to by then coach Simoes in his comment about the qualification being tantamount to roofing a house without building its foundation. The previous 3-4 years had seen high levels of buy in and investment from the private sector to achieve the goal, however the vast majority of these funds were used to ensure multiple camps for the team and as many friendly fixtures as possible. While players at the national team level during those years were able to improve their skills, the remainder of Jamaica’s players in the Premier League and below were subject to the same poor standards that they had always been dealing with.
Post qualification, the corporate support grew even more, and with funding from FIFA for qualification and participation, it would have been logical to assume that this money would be pumped into the Jamaican footballing pyramid. However the development of grassroots programs to harness the talent of all the youngsters already playing and newly attracted to the sport, the creation of talent identification systems and competitions to find and develop the very best of these players for future national teams, improved learning opportunities for coaches and referees to build themselves and improved club support structures to raise the level of football played in the nation’s highest league, were all neglected. The opportunity to put in place frameworks contributing to the efficient harnessing of the nation’s football talent to achieve its potential was not taken, which has led to the current 22 year wander in the wilderness.
A similar story unfolded as private sector sponsors flocked the Reggae Girlz after their November 2018 qualification. Multiple partnerships were announced in the media to great fanfare, though the length and amount of these was not highlighted. It is clear now, almost a year after the Girlz’s trek in France, that the financial gains made during this period were not put to good use. Programs to attract young girls to the sport and provide them with adequate coaching and competitions have not even been proposed, while the game of “will it or wont it happen” surrounding the nation’s Women’s League continues.
The absurd lack of planning and foresight to build on the achievement and grow the women’s game in Jamaica is there for all to see and will be a definitive contributor to future failures to achieve the high- water mark again. The saving grace for that team is that most of the players are of the age to take part in at least another cycle before a fresh injection of talent would be needed. However the JFF’s complete disregard for the Reggae Girlz after last summer (including still owing them money) has probably also contributed to a lack of desire in some of them, and the coming generations, to be a part of the national team set up.
The current crop
As for the current Reggae Boyz? On paper, I do believe they have a good chance at World Cup Qualification in this cycle but we will have to see what format is adopted for World Cup qualification post- Covid. However the question remains: what happens after that?
Talk (as usual) about professionalising the Red Stripe Premier League has again popped up. However, the continued absence of a grassroots system that adequately equips all players learning the game combined with a non- existent talent identification and high performance framework means Jamaican talent will only continue to trickle through to make this league viable. The clubs still lack the money needed to properly sustain high level football and the fans will not be interested in seeing a simple re- branded product that is no better than the previous because the talent is no better. Schoolboy football exists but that is simply a glorified extra- curricular activity which will never prepare enough local football talent to be globally competitive.
Is it worth it?
If we cannot commit to strategically developing structures, programs and competitions that will efficiently develop globally competitive footballers there is no point in getting to a World Cup. It would just be another false dawn. The JFF is currently unable to attract partnerships because it cannot be trusted to utilise funds efficiently, and it would take faith of the highest order to believe that any funds forthcoming from potential qualification will be used differently.
So other than boosting our ego and more publicity, would Jamaican football benefit from World Cup qualification in real terms? Unfortunately, the evidence says not.