Find a new way, JFF
A new term will start in the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) on November 4 at the Voting Congress to be hosted by the Hanover Football Association and it appears bar any last minute interventions that Horace Burrell will be returned as president.
It will be interesting to see how many of the present executive members will be retained as in the divisive politics that is a feature of our football, oftentimes qualified persons get swept out of office simply because they supported the losing presidential candidate.
It is almost certain that Horace Reid will be back as General Secretary and this will be a plus for the Federation. Reid is one of our brightest sports minds and was the backbone of the JFF when Burrell was in office.
This is not to try to put down the work of the present General Secretary Burchell Gibson but Reid has proven himself to be a world classed football administrator and could one day take over the show.
It is however time for the JFF to move away from the popularity contest that the race for presidency is right now. The process as we have it now open itself too much manipulation from outside influences or 'special interest'.
It is time for the president of the JFF to be appointed by either the Institute of Sports of the Ministry of Sports and candidates apply and are interviewed by a technical panel.
A history of involvement in football should not be the main criterion for the successful candidate but rather a vision of moving the game forward at both the local and international level.
For too long the list of candidates putting themselves forward to be president of the JFF has been way too short and lacking in real quality.
One of the reasons the list has been so short is that the job, save for frequent overseas trips, is not an attractive one to lure the bright minds in the corporate world.
I am in full agreement with KSAFA president Stewart Stephenson and others who think the top football job should be a paid one and I will go further to say the pay package should be equal to a CEO of a major company including incentives.
How many qualified candidates can afford to walk away from their jobs to run football for four years or more and have to dip into their own pockets? How many companies can afford to second their top tiered or even second tiered executives to run football?
Not too many persons who are qualified to run the JFF or any sporting body in the island is as wealthy as Captain Burrell and so whether or not they can sponsor as many leagues as he can, should be a consideration.
Not that Captain's kindness should not be lauded, certainly not but it will be interesting to see whether he will continue sponsoring the various leagues after he gets into power or will help the respective FAs to find other sponsorship.
A new term will start in the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) on November 4 at the Voting Congress to be hosted by the Hanover Football Association and it appears bar any last minute interventions that Horace Burrell will be returned as president.
It will be interesting to see how many of the present executive members will be retained as in the divisive politics that is a feature of our football, oftentimes qualified persons get swept out of office simply because they supported the losing presidential candidate.
It is almost certain that Horace Reid will be back as General Secretary and this will be a plus for the Federation. Reid is one of our brightest sports minds and was the backbone of the JFF when Burrell was in office.
This is not to try to put down the work of the present General Secretary Burchell Gibson but Reid has proven himself to be a world classed football administrator and could one day take over the show.
It is however time for the JFF to move away from the popularity contest that the race for presidency is right now. The process as we have it now open itself too much manipulation from outside influences or 'special interest'.
It is time for the president of the JFF to be appointed by either the Institute of Sports of the Ministry of Sports and candidates apply and are interviewed by a technical panel.
A history of involvement in football should not be the main criterion for the successful candidate but rather a vision of moving the game forward at both the local and international level.
For too long the list of candidates putting themselves forward to be president of the JFF has been way too short and lacking in real quality.
One of the reasons the list has been so short is that the job, save for frequent overseas trips, is not an attractive one to lure the bright minds in the corporate world.
I am in full agreement with KSAFA president Stewart Stephenson and others who think the top football job should be a paid one and I will go further to say the pay package should be equal to a CEO of a major company including incentives.
How many qualified candidates can afford to walk away from their jobs to run football for four years or more and have to dip into their own pockets? How many companies can afford to second their top tiered or even second tiered executives to run football?
Not too many persons who are qualified to run the JFF or any sporting body in the island is as wealthy as Captain Burrell and so whether or not they can sponsor as many leagues as he can, should be a consideration.
Not that Captain's kindness should not be lauded, certainly not but it will be interesting to see whether he will continue sponsoring the various leagues after he gets into power or will help the respective FAs to find other sponsorship.
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