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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Keep your eyes focused on the ball, urges Boxhill</SPAN>
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Saturday, September 09, 2006
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</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>BOXHILL ... football will always be good to those who support it in good and bad times</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>Below is the full address by the Jamaica Football Federation's president Crenston Boxhill at Thursday's launch of the 2006-07 Wray & Nephew National Premier League at the offices of the Jamaica Football Federation.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Once again our top players in our premier domestic football league will take to the field to provide rich entertainment and excitement to local football fans.<P class=StoryText align=justify>And already, no doubt there is anticipation and discussion about the expectations this year. Clubs have their strong loyal supporters, players have their loyal fans and when they deliver its sheer joy and when they don't ... well let's say it is the opposite.<P class=StoryText align=justify>I think the fans have two special areas of interest
this year.<P class=StoryText align=justify>One, we will be looking to see the real impact of the league system. Last year, it was partially understandable, it was a new system and although as avid fans, players and administrators, we know what it should mean, it was almost like a culture shock.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=350 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>JFF president Crenston Boxhill (left) and his general secretary Burchell Gibson in discussion at the NPL launch on Thursday.</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>Well, this year there should be no further shock and we will all be watching to see if the real goal of a league system has taken effect. Let me repeat the goal is to raise the discipline, consistency and to improve the professionalism, so critical for any successful national programme.<P class=StoryText align=justify>If we see the transition, then the current administration will say in this regard. mission accomplished, we are on our way.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Secondly, fans and experts will be looking seriously at whether players realise that we are on the early stages to World Cup preparation and will be looking closely for players who show they want to make a difference.<P class=StoryText align=justify>We need passion, we need match winners, we need skill, we need to see that Jamaican 'baller talent in the midfield, down the wings and in the defence, we need the unique dribble and alongside all of this, and just as important, we need team spirit and team effort. We will be looking for all these and more.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Outside of providing entertainment and discussion, however, players this year have a lot of incentives to play for.
The match last Monday against the Canadian senior team offers an example of the opportunities. In a situation where the coach was unable to pull together the most experienced team, the best available players were utilised.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The end result, as will be recorded in the record books, was not what we would have hoped for. However, in the determination to put our best together, we had three players travelling for the first time as members of the national senior squad. I am one hundred per cent sure that they all b
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>
Saturday, September 09, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=145 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>BOXHILL ... football will always be good to those who support it in good and bad times</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>Below is the full address by the Jamaica Football Federation's president Crenston Boxhill at Thursday's launch of the 2006-07 Wray & Nephew National Premier League at the offices of the Jamaica Football Federation.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Once again our top players in our premier domestic football league will take to the field to provide rich entertainment and excitement to local football fans.<P class=StoryText align=justify>And already, no doubt there is anticipation and discussion about the expectations this year. Clubs have their strong loyal supporters, players have their loyal fans and when they deliver its sheer joy and when they don't ... well let's say it is the opposite.<P class=StoryText align=justify>I think the fans have two special areas of interest this year.<P class=StoryText align=justify>One, we will be looking to see the real impact of the league system. Last year, it was partially understandable, it was a new system and although as avid fans, players and administrators, we know what it should mean, it was almost like a culture shock.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=350 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>JFF president Crenston Boxhill (left) and his general secretary Burchell Gibson in discussion at the NPL launch on Thursday.</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>Well, this year there should be no further shock and we will all be watching to see if the real goal of a league system has taken effect. Let me repeat the goal is to raise the discipline, consistency and to improve the professionalism, so critical for any successful national programme.<P class=StoryText align=justify>If we see the transition, then the current administration will say in this regard. mission accomplished, we are on our way.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Secondly, fans and experts will be looking seriously at whether players realise that we are on the early stages to World Cup preparation and will be looking closely for players who show they want to make a difference.<P class=StoryText align=justify>We need passion, we need match winners, we need skill, we need to see that Jamaican 'baller talent in the midfield, down the wings and in the defence, we need the unique dribble and alongside all of this, and just as important, we need team spirit and team effort. We will be looking for all these and more.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Outside of providing entertainment and discussion, however, players this year have a lot of incentives to play for.The match last Monday against the Canadian senior team offers an example of the opportunities. In a situation where the coach was unable to pull together the most experienced team, the best available players were utilised.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The end result, as will be recorded in the record books, was not what we would have hoped for. However, in the determination to put our best together, we had three players travelling for the first time as members of the national senior squad. I am one hundred per cent sure that they all b