By Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
Newly-elected president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Crenston Boxhill (third left), pose with members of his team. From left are Lionel McLean second vice-president, George Evans first vice-president, Patrick Roberts third vice-president, Anthony Hewitt ex-officio director and Carlton Barclay treasurer. - Patrick Campbell/Freelance Photographer
NEWLY-ELECTED President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Crenston Boxhill, yesterday called for unity in the football family in his acceptance speech after dethroning Captain Horace Burrell, the man who held the post for the past nine years.
"We understand that it was a race, an election and it would be impossible for all 104 delegates to be voting for any one team. Now that the race is over, I am going to ask that we let football be the winner. Forget who you voted for, join hands and heart together and make certain that we take the sport to the other level," Boxhill said offering the hand of peace.
CLEAN SWEEP
Boxhill, the first challenger to Burrell since 1994 when he took over from attorney-at-law Heron Dale, defeated Burrell 54-49 with one ballot being spoilt. The win of the South-Central Confederation Chairman and president of the Clarendon Football Association started what turned out to be a clean sweep for his team.
In his speech Boxhill also praised Burrell for his work.
"To Captain Burrell, as Jamaicans, as lovers of the sport, as part of an extension team of yours we thought that you had done very well and had set the platform for us to take the baton as Patrick (Roberts) had said earlier and take Jamaica's football to the next level.
"Captain, I am certain that you have made the job a little bit easier for us and I can assure you we will be taking it from strength to strength," he said to Burrell who had made his exit following his loss.
Boxhill said that there would still be a role for the charismatic ex-president to play.
COUNCIL
"Of course, we think that Captain Burrell can do a lot for Jamaica's football. As a matter of fact I will be proposing a past president's council. I have spoken to a number of the past presidents and with Captain being the most recent of them I will ask him to chair that committee. That council would assist especially as it relates to international affairs," said Boxhill in reference to queries about a role for Burrell.
Another key member of the Burrell team, Horace Reid, was paid respect.
Said Boxhill. "Just to quote a favourite line from the outgoing president, 'it would be remiss of me to conclude without recognising the effort that Mr Horace Reid made, and the contribution that he has given to Jamaica's football'."
The delegates who supported him were not forgotten. For those sentiments he received loud applauses but the loudest were still to come. That was saved for his eloquent expression of confidence.
"From the campaign began in earnest, we have always made tallies and there have always time, our tallies reflected doubt that would bend our confidence, shake our commitment and determination to take it to the finish line," he said.
"In fact I must tell you from the time we counted 49 delegates and the entourage left the Holiday Inn in Montego Bay this morning and heading into the Starfish Resort, we knew that the Star was already ours to claim. The fish was already caught, scaled and eaten." At that, the place erupted.
Promising to give a brief speech, Boxhill continued that he was confident of victory as his team did enough work on the ground. This work throughout the parishes and the media was enough to convince him that his pre-election campaign "was no hype. So to say I did not harbour thoughts of this would be lying."
The victory, he said, was for the team, which included Anthony Hewitt of St. Tho-mas who was named executive officer.
While expressing happiness with the victory of his team, he tempered the mood of celebration with a sobering reminder that a lot of hard work is at hand.
"It is a time for celebration. Of course it is going to be very short as the JFF job is at hand and I am certain that my team and myself know that there will not be long extensive honeymoon because tomorrow morning come 9 o' clock we will be at work at St. Lucia Avenue.
"Although I would not consider myself a Christian, in the strictest sense, I would not overlook the need to express thanks to the father and to invite his leading as we immediately commence plans for the remodelling of the football product."
Boxhill also named Lincoln 'Happy' Sutherland a honourary life member of the JFF.
