THE JAMAICA Football Federation (JFF) has launched a counter-attack on its former president, Captain Horace Burrell, accusing him of "constantly undermining the organisation".At the same time, the football body has offered the former
president a chance to "work
constructively in the development of the national programme."
The response follows a report carried in yesterday's Gleaner, in which Captain Burrell said that the JFF president at present, Crenston Boxhill, "... just does not have what it takes" to run the local football governing body.
CLOSE VOTE
Boxhill beat Captain Burrell for the presidential position through a close vote at the JFF's Congress in November 2003 and it is not the first time that Captain Burrell
has publicly expressed a lack of confidence in his successor's
ability to lead the sport.
The release said: "Captain Horace Burrell continues his sustained effort to seek to cast doubt on the current leadership of the JFF."
It added: "The Federation has sought to stay away from accusations and personal issues relating to
football as it is its intention to be totally focused on the very important tasks at hand to put football on a
sustainable and firm development foundation.
"Efforts to try and divert this administration from its main tasks are not likely to succeed and, in fact, are increasingly strengthening the resolve of the administration and the support from the loving fans and sponsors."
It further stated:
"The public is free to judge whether daily pronouncements and judgements by Captain Burrell or his past general secretary, Horace Reid, is doing anything to positively contribute to the important task at hand."
Ironically, Captain Burrell sponsors a number of football associations and he addressed his support of those contributions in yesterday's article.
Also, he stated that he would always be willing to assist this country as "... no citizen should ever do that. I am willing to assist in the development of my country as I believe that service to country is one of the greatest honours one could receive in a lifetime."
DEBT-RIDDEN ORGANISATION
The JFF release also mentioned that the Burrell-led administration "... left a heavily debt-ridden organisation and negotiated deals that limits the immediate possibilities for building a financially viable federation".
Despite that, the release says they will not be deterred and outlined a number of tasks. They are:
Ensuring that all is done to allow our young and enviable football talent to be given the exposure, the nurturing, support and the encouragement so that participation in major international competitions, including the World Cup, the Gold Cup and others are a real possibility on a continuous basis.
The recent victory at the Caribbean Championship level is the beginning of the efforts in that direction. In this regard we note that:
- The two players nominated for the Most Valuable players were Jamaicans.
- The composition of the team had the highest number of Under-20 players to participate in any senior competition at an international level.
- The top goalscorer was a Jamaican and is an Under-20 player.
- The team scored the most goals of the tournament, 38, and conceded the least, five.
It added: "We are aware that this is just a start but the selection and exposure given to these young players is a policy that we are committed to and which with further encouragement can take us a far way."
The JFF also pointed to its work through competitions and programmes at the community and local levels (premier league, age -group competitions, parish and confederation competitions); and the national Academy, saying it "...will facilitate training development and growth of our footballers, including their academic skills as well as training of our coaches, referees and administrator is established."
Further, the JFF said:
"We invite Captain Burrell to our luncheon (complimentary) to be held on March 22 in which a progress report on our development plans will be given to the nation, to update himself and hopefully, out of that a more constructive approach will be taken by him to not only financially support strategically targeted parishes, but to utilize his representation at the highest levels to FIFA to help in the development of the national programme."
It concluded: "It is by your deeds that your true committment is revealed."
