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Sorry I had inadvertently posted the first draft but there is one big error in it. Officers of the JFF MUST be elected as per FIFA rules and the final copy reflected this.
Find another way, JFF
Bar any last minute interventions, it appears that Horace Burrell will be returned as president when the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) new term starts on November 4 at the Voting Congress to be hosted by the Hanover Football Association.
It will be interesting to see how many of the present executive members will be retained, as oftentimes qualified persons get swept out of office simply because they supported the losing presidential candidate in the divisive politics that characterises our football.
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 an indictment on the work of the present General Secretary, Burchell Gibson, but Reid has proven himself to be a world class football administrator who 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, is open to too much manipulation from outside influences or 'special interests'.
It is time for the process of electing the president of the JFF to move from the pork barrell and popularity contest that it has become. Since it is against FIFA laws to appoint the heads of national federations, there must be ways of ensuring that the JFF and other sporting bodies can compete for the brightest minds in corporate Jamaica.
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 levels.
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 is that the job, save for frequent overseas trips, is not attractive enough to lure the bright minds in the corporate world.
I am in full agreement with Stewart Stephenson, president Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), 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 and include 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 executives to run football?
Not too many persons who are qualified to run the JFF or any sporting body in the island are as wealthy as Captain Burrell and so whether or not they can sponsor as many leagues as he can, this should not be a consideration.
Not that Captain's kindness should not be lauded.
But it will be interesting to see whether he will continue sponsoring the various leagues after he gets into power or help the respective FA’s to find other sponsorship.
Find another way, JFF
Bar any last minute interventions, it appears that Horace Burrell will be returned as president when the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) new term starts on November 4 at the Voting Congress to be hosted by the Hanover Football Association.
It will be interesting to see how many of the present executive members will be retained, as oftentimes qualified persons get swept out of office simply because they supported the losing presidential candidate in the divisive politics that characterises our football.
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 an indictment on the work of the present General Secretary, Burchell Gibson, but Reid has proven himself to be a world class football administrator who 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, is open to too much manipulation from outside influences or 'special interests'.
It is time for the process of electing the president of the JFF to move from the pork barrell and popularity contest that it has become. Since it is against FIFA laws to appoint the heads of national federations, there must be ways of ensuring that the JFF and other sporting bodies can compete for the brightest minds in corporate Jamaica.
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 levels.
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 is that the job, save for frequent overseas trips, is not attractive enough to lure the bright minds in the corporate world.
I am in full agreement with Stewart Stephenson, president Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), 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 and include 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 executives to run football?
Not too many persons who are qualified to run the JFF or any sporting body in the island are as wealthy as Captain Burrell and so whether or not they can sponsor as many leagues as he can, this should not be a consideration.
Not that Captain's kindness should not be lauded.
But it will be interesting to see whether he will continue sponsoring the various leagues after he gets into power or help the respective FA’s to find other sponsorship.