Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
BOXHILL
THE JAMAICA Football Federation and Real Madrid Football Club, the most popular club in the world, could soon formalise a relationship of technical assistance as early as next month.
According to Crenston Boxhill, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), who along with general secretary Burchell Gibson, visited the club two Wednesday's ago, the JFF now have the option of sending two youth coaches to Real Madrid next month. This he said came out of a meeting with the club's senior vice-president Emilio Butrageno.
"We have come to an agreement where we can send two coaches there as early as next month, Boxhill told The Gleaner yesterday.
"As a matter of fact, we can send coaches there in September and Emilio Butrageno recommended that we send coaches at both times," added the man who took charge of the JFF affairs in November 2003.
CONTACT
Initial contact between Jamaica and Real Madrid took place in January when Boxhill took the opportunity to hold discussions with then club president Florentino Perez about the possibility of establishing a relationship. Perez, chairman of ACS-Dragado, one of the largest construction companies in the world and which also has an interest in the Sangster International Airport, was in the island to deal with matters relating to the airport.
In the meeting which took place at the VIP Lounge of the Sangster International Airport on a Saturday afternoon, Perez gave Boxhill the commitment that he would set up an appointment in Madrid with former Spain international Emilio Butragueno, a senior vice-president at the club and the one in charge of such matters.
Perez also said Spanish Ambassador, His Excellency Jesus Silva who was also present at the meeting and who served as interpreter, would act as liaison between Real Madrid and the JFF until the meeting materialised.
Even though Perez resigned as Real Madrid chairman before the meeting took place, it came to fruition largely because of the efforts of Ambassador Silva.
"We are very thankful to His Excellency Ambassador Silva for the work that he did in making the meeting a reality," Boxhill said.
The meeting with Butragueno and himself he said went well.
"Butragueno was quite pleasant and receptive and informed us that he had been briefed by the former president Perez.
"We discussed a wide range of possibilities including members of the Real Madrid technical staff visiting Jamaica to assist in our youth development programme; some of our youth players visiting and participating in their academy programme when out of school and of course, our youth coaches going there for an extended period in an observer capacity," said Boxhill.
According to Boxhill discussion between the JFF and the club will continue and that "Butrageno was quite happy to start the partnership and expressed great optimism in its development".
While it is not something for the near future, the possibility of Real Madrid visiting Jamaica was explored.
