Jamaica Football Federation, Founded 1962, Affiliated to FIFA CONCACAF and CFU.
20 St. Lucia Crescent, Kingston 5, Jamaica, West Indies
Telephone: (876) 929 0484 / (876) 929 8036 / (876) 926 1182
Fax: (876) 929 0483 / (876) 960 2421
Email: jamff@hotmail.com
CARL BROWN APPOINTED TECHINICAL DIRECTOR
Fifty-two year-old Carl Brown has been appointed technical director of Jamaica's football, effective January 1 next year.
President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell made the announcement at a press conference yesterday.
Under Brown's guidance, Jamaica won the Shell Cup in 1991, and placed third in the 1993 Gold Cup. He currently boasts a 10-match unbeaten streak -- all overseas -- with the Reggae Boyz this year. His four-year contract ends on July 31, 2006.
Charged with guiding the Reggae Boyz into the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Brown said he would be "preparing the national team to perform and achieve the goals we have set for them".
"Our main goal is for 2006 in Germany, but there are a number of things that have to be done in between and one of them is beating the USA ... and on a regular basis," he said.
The JFF will spend US$300,000 (J$14.9m) to set up the February 12 date with the USA at the National Stadium at 2:37 pm. The money includes promotion and advertising, match fees, hotel accommodation, ground transportation and stadium rental.
Jamaica will face a strong USA squad, which should include Eddie Pope, Josh Wolff, Clint Mathis, Landon Donovan and Brian McBride.
Jamaica have never beaten the USA.
However, Jamaica's first match for the new year will not be the USA encounter, but against Barbados in Bridgetown on January 12.
According to Brown, who has led Boys' Town to nine Major League and three Premier League titles, he wanted "not light at the end of the tunnel, but to see the tunnel".
Ackowledging the media support he has received over the years, Brown said: "I'm not asking any of you to cover up any wrongs that you feel I'm doing, or any shortcomings that you feel that I have. I'm asking for honesty."
Brown admitted the year has been a good one for him. From 14 matches, he lost the first four, but rallied to gain seven wins and three draws, including 0-0 with Nigeria, 1-1 against Japan and 3-0, 0-0 against India.
"This year we have looked at 51 players who have actually participated in games so far this year. We'll continue to do that. If there are any more players out there who we feel that will help us to achieve the goals that we have set, they will be given the chance."
Brown said his learning stint at English Premiership club, Bolton Wanderers, helped him to develop and build his confidence.
At least two members of the coaching staff are expected to retain their place, Brown told the Observer, namely Peter Cargill and Jackie Walters.
Burrell, meanwhile, said the JFF gave its 100 per cent support to Brown, who according to a Bolton report, has the ability "to perform his duties at the highest level".
"His job is not going to be easy, it's going to be full of challenges and based on the report, we are satisfied that coach Carl Brown has the capacity to do the job well," said Burrell.
The JFF boss said Brown's salary, which though not matching his overseas predecessors, was enough for him to live well and was in fact more than his previous corporate salary.
Admission to the USA game is $1,000 grandstand, $500 bleachers and for the VIP section, $2,000.
ARNETT GARDENS MAKE HISTORY IN WINNING GROUP
Arnett Gardens FC survived a taut final match against Violette AC of
Haiti to win the Group A round-robin in Caribbean Zone qualifying;
and in so doing make history for Jamaican clubs in the 40-plus
year-old continental competition.
Each team had knocked off VSADC of Saint Lucia in their first
matches; Arnett Gardens winning a 5:0 decision, while Violette won
by a 3:1 scoreline; setting the stage for the final group match.
The home-standing Jamaican outfit withstood a concerted Violette
attack, and escaped with a scoreless draw which was enough to see it
through on goal difference.
Arnett Gardens thus became one of the last two Caribbean clubs
standing in the competition; the best-ever performance by a
Jamaican club in the Champions Cup, which began in 1962. On two
occasions Jamaican clubs have reached the semifinals in Caribbean
qualifying; Waterhouse FC in 1999 (final 20 in the event), and Seba
United FC in 1987 (final eight).
CLUB FRANCISCAIN FINED FOR WITHDRAWAL
Club Franciscain of Martinique has been fined US$11,000 for their
withdrawal from the FC Champions Cup, CONCACAF General Secretary
Chuck Blazer announced. In addition, Club Franciscain has been
suspended from competing in the next Champions Cup tournament,
should they so qualify. Club Franciscain was scheduled to play in
the Caribbean Zone Group A tournament in Kingston, Jamaica
FC UNDER-17 JUNIOR TOURNAMENT
Jamaica advance after stopping The Domonican Republic 1-0.
Thanks to a late goal from Kemar Munroe, Jamaica knocked off
Republica Dominicana 1:0 on 8 December in San Cristobál in the
second leg of their Caribbean Zone final round qualifying series and
won the tie 5:0 on aggregate. COMPLETE STORY
Winners 4:0 in the first leg, the victory in the series gives the
young Reggae Boyz a berth in Group A of the FC final tournament
scheduled for Guatemala from 3-9 March 2003, along with the USA, the
winner of Central Zone Group A and the host nation.
2003 FC CHAMPIONS CUP
Champions Cup Field almost set for first round.
The 16-team field for the first round of the 2003 CONCACAF Champions
Cup will be all but set this weekend, when the second Caribbean Zone
representative is decided in the Group B qualifying tournament in
Trinidad & Tobago. The final piece of the puzzle will also come into
focus as the playoffs finalists for the Torneo Apertura in Mexico;s
Primera Division are decided.
Three clubs; Harbour View FC of Jamaica, US Robert of Martinique
and host W Connection FC; will be looking to join Jamaican side
Arnett Gardens FC as the Caribbean entrants in the first round
proper of the continental championship for club sides, which will
kick off next year. A fourth team scheduled to play; FICA of Haiti;
has withdrawn from the competition.
W Connection enters the event as the favorite, reaching the first
round of the 2002 Champions Cup after winning a difficult series in
Haiti plagued by illness and torrential rain. But Harbour View
features a number of Jamaican internationals, and US Robert will be
looking to emulate the successful performance of the island;s
national team in the Gold Cup over the past year.
The four Mexican representatives should also be clearer after this
week's semifinals in the Torneo Apertura liguilla (playoffs). CD
Toluca FC, led by Paraguayan marksman Jose Saturnino Cardozo, takes
on Club Santos Laguna, which surprisingly dumped out regular season
leader Club América. The other semifinal features CA Monarcas
Morelia, finalist in the 2002 CONCACAF Champions Cup, against Pumas
UNAM.
The six finalists from the Central Zone have already been determined
in a series of quadrangulars played earlier this fall. Two teams
from Guatemala; CSD Comunicaciones and CSD Municipal; lead the
way, joined by LD Alajuelense (Costa Rica), Deportivo Arabe Unido
(Panama), CD Motagua (Honduras) and CD F.A.S (El Salvador).
The four U.S. representatives in the final round are all from Major
League Soccer: Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS Cup champion), New England
Revolution (MLS Cup runner-up), San Jose Earthquakes (Supporters;
Shield winner) and Columbus Crew (U.S. Open Cup champion).
There will be a new champion crowned next year; Pachuca CF, which
won the 2002 FC Champions Cup with a 1:0 victory against CA Monarcas
Morelia, did not qualify for the playoffs for the second half-season
running.
FULLER FACES DELAY ON SURGERY
Ricardo Fuller will have to wait until next year before having corrective surgery on his injured knee. The Jamaica striker was ruled out for the season last week after damaging his cruciate ligament in the win at Coventry.
An exploratory operation confirmed the damage but Fuller's operation to cure the problem will be delayed. A Preston North End club spokesman said: "It will be six to eight weeks before he actually has the operation because it needs to settle down first."
BURTON RETURNS TO PORTSMOUTH ….AGAIN
Division One leaders Portsmouth are set to strengthen their Premiership push by signing Derby striker Deon Burton. Harry Redknapp has agreed a fee for the 26-year-old which could reach £250,000, depending on appearances and Porthmouth’s survival, should they reach the Premiership.
Burton will return for a third time to Fratton Park, where he began his career. The Jamaican international joined Derby from Pompey in August 1997 for £1m, and returned to Fratton Park earlier this season on loan. Burton's transfer also sees him join up with Portsmouth assistant manager Jim Smith for the third time. Smith signed Burton during his spell as Rams' manager.
Burton's signing solves Redknapp's search for striking power. Redknapp was frustrated in his attempts to sign Tottenham veteran Les Ferdinand. Burton will compete for a place with Svetoslav Todorov and former Celtic striker Mark Burchill. Pompey also have Lee Bradbury and Juventus loanee Vincent Pericard returning from injury. While few other clubs have been able to boost their squads, Redknapp has had the benefit of chairman Milan Mandaric's millions to fund Pompey's promotion drive.
EARL BAILEY
PRESS OFFICER JFF
Mobile: 876-351 2656
PATRON: The Governor General
OFFICERS: Captain Horace G. Burrell, CD, JP, OMFIFA, President; Raymond Anderson, 1st Deputy
President, Lincoln Sutherland, 2nd Deputy President; E. David Watt 3rd Deputy President;
Peter Reid, Treasurer; Linnel McLean, Executive Officer; Horace D. Reid, General Secretary.
Jamaica Football Federation