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Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
- Barack Obama
We can look back at changes that occurred after past JFF elections and draw our own conclusions on and about what shall occur if the Raymond Anderson team replaces the Michael Ricketts Administration.
Before Captain Horace Burrell’s administration Jamaica had never qualified for a FIFA World Cup Final Tournament. Captain Burrell and his administration achieved that feat at both the Men FIFA World Cup and the male FIFA Under 20 levels.
Fast Forward to the present Michael Ricketts led administration and the most momentous achievement of our ladies occurred. The Senior Women Team qualified for two (2) World Cup Final Tournaments and at the second time attending progressed to the round of 16. That historic progression to the FIFA Women World Cup Round of 16 still has fanz of Jamaica’s Football in ecstasy. That advance in those 2023 World Cup Final Tournament run included taking the prize head of Brazil. The FIFA.com website paid tribute to our 2023 Women team, Cedella Marley and some others who supported the team while it also mentioned some drawbacks in an article at https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/art...mens-world-cup. A quote from that FIFA article states,
“The Reggae Girlz love to prove doubters wrong. The team representing Jamaica in women's football effectively came into being in 1991, but, 19 years later, it was disbanded by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), citing a lack of funds. Within three years, Jamaica were removed from FIFA's world rankings for inactivity. Then, Cedella Marley, the daughter of the late Bob Marley, joined the fight.
Circa 2023, the Reggae Girlz, Jamaica, became the first-ever Caribbean team to reach the knockout stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, a feat they achieved after knocking out one of the heavyweights of the game, Brazil, on August 2, 2023. Needing a draw to make the last 16 in their second attempt, Jamaica produced a defensive masterclass to deny Marta & Co the win at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. The result: a goalless draw!”
- End of quote.
It is a fact that JFF leaders and administrations have come and gone with progress being made over the years.
However, the fanz, rightly or wrongly have been impatient with the rate of progress. Most Jamaica football fanz fervently believe that our football has been ‘slow walking forward’ and they blame successive JFF administrations for what they perceive as hindrance to faster upward progression at all levels of “the football”.
The vast majority of Jamaicans wish swift improvement in the quality of the leadership within the JFF. As the coming JFF Elections approach there is increasing clamour for “change” within the JFF Officers group and the JFF’s Board of Directors. There is a wish for leadership that can competently manage Youth Development at the earliest of age through recognized football age-group levels and of each of Jamaica’s National teams. For the concerned football enthusiasts it is an expectation of concurrent rapid improved development in all areas and at all levels.
So what will the new administration inherit?
- Pressure to satisfy the expectations of the fanz and indeed all Jamaicans wherever they reside.
- A vast pool of rabid lovers of football waiting to be mobilized to assist as volunteers at all positions needing their assistance.
- Parish, Confederation and other JFF affiliates wishing direction and funding that shall allow each to fulfill defined targets that shall satisfy ambition at showing progression in the areas managed.
- Observable success of male and female national teams.
- Openness and transparency in financial affairs.
- Adequate funding.
- A building of a viable multi-million USD/JMD billion Football Industry.
Yes, the incoming administration will inherit the dormant less than fully exploited resources to succeed. The means to satisfy the fanz and other Jamaicans desire for a sustainable successful Jamaica Football Industry if only the incoming administration can grasp it.
Was it approximately USD1,000,000 in preparantion money? ...plus USD1,870,000 for reaching the Round of 16...plus USD60,000 x 24 for the ladies? Approximately USD4,310,000? There was, I understand, monies given to/for JFF 'mission attendees' as per diem....????
NB: Per diem payments can cover all or part of the expenses incurred, such as:
Accommodation
Food
Fees
Tips
Lodging expenses
...and was all traveling expenses paid for these attendees"? It would not be a stretch to assume so...right????
Why then were the RGirlz disrespected as it regarded their Per diem? Would it be nice to know? ...or was it already explained by The JFF???? Did "the attendees" also have to make representation of the JFF on arrival from the Women World Cup? Just wondering...