By LeVaughn Flynn, Staff ReporterTHE JAMAICA Football Federation (JFF) paid homage to its past, present and future with an illustrious awards ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, yesterday.
Celebrating the sixth year since Jamaica qualified for the World Cup Finals in France on November 16, 1997, the JFF had a host of events to mark this indelible occasion including a ground breaking ceremony for the future FIFA academy, a double-header at the National Stadium and the presentation function.
Keynote speaker Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter, president of FIFA, teamed up with the JFF to add more status to the event where he issued all awards to the honourees.
Also present was FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF president Austin 'Jack' Warner, who saw many of the sports foot soldiers being recognised for what he termed their "unselfish dedication to developing football in Jamaica."
LAID FOUNDATION
"I am truly touched by it (ceremony). It is an example of what other federations should emulate, so we have to thank those guys who've served because football in no country today has just come out of the sky. There must have been some foundation being laid by these guys who came before us and whether we love them or not we must love what they have done and we must recognise them," Warner said.
Warner went on to say: "When you look at Ken Chaplain (former referee) for example, (he) was a referee of a high calibre who worked almost ceaselessly with little or no returns. So we must let these guys know how we appreciate what they've done for us in the past."
Highlighting the importance of the awards presentation on younger administrators of the sport, Warner added: "It (ceremony) has given them (young people) a sense of history. So few young people know about the past and if they don't know about the past how are they going to be guided in the present."
The JFF awarded plaques to past JFF presidents, players, referees, World Cup referees and coaches.
Past presidents: Dr. Ron Gordon, Locksley Comrie, Patrick Anderson, Lincoln 'Happy' Sutherland, Dr. Winston Dawes, Anthony James, Heron Dale, Hugh Perry.
Past referees: Karl Stewart, Ken Chaplain, Clarence Cooke, Whilston Taylor, Winston 'Dirks' Campbell, Steve Bucknor.
Referees in World Cup: Peter Prendergast, FIFA referee, World Cup 2002; Owen Powell, asst. FIFA referee, World Cup 1998.
Past players: Lester 'Fairy Boots' Alcock, Player of the Decade '50s; Syd Bartlett, Player of the Decade '60s; Allan 'Skill' Cole, Player of the Decade '70s; Paul 'Tegat' Davis, Player of the Decade '80s; Walter 'Pearl' Boyd, Player of the Decade '90s.
National coaches: Winston Chung-Fah, Carl Brown, George Thompson, Winthorpe 'Jackie' Bell, Dennis Ziadie.
