Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Crenston Boxhill during yesterday's press conference at the JFF's headquarters in New Kingston. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
JAMAICA FOOTBALL Federation (JFF) president, Crenston Boxhill, yesterday cleared the air regarding Jamaica's controversial tour of England just before the start of the World Cup in Germany.
Boxhill, in addressing the media at a press conference at the JFF Offices in New King-ston also confirmed his organisation was in talks with Liverpool legend, John Barnes about taking up a position in its technical programme.
He also made reference to the much-debated Marlon King issue and of Jamaica's late arrival for the game against Ghana. He justified the size of Jamaica's delegation to England and set a date for the completion of the country's first football academy.
The architectural drawings related to the JFF's football academy are almost complete and Boxhill announced that the federation would be issuing tenders for its construction within the next three weeks.
Coming out of that, Boxhill said phase one of the project would be completed by January 1, 2007.
With regard to the rumour that Barnes, a former England player, born here in Jamaica, would take up the post of technical director, Boxhill was cagey, but said the JFF was in talks, not only with Barnes, but with a number of other coaches.
DISCUSSIONS
"The federation for some time now has had discussions with Mr. Barnes with respect to the upgrading of the technical department. The country will be kept informed," said Boxhill, while indicating that he didn't wish to disclose any other names.
As for the King issue, Boxhill was adamant that the media did not seek to or was not provided the opportunity to tell the story from the JFF's point of view. He said King, in his comments to the British media, was being vindictive because he was hurt by not being allowed to play against England.
Giving full details of the events as they transpired on May 30, Boxhill said King was "inexcusably rude" and that his behaviour would have hurt the JFF's relationships with its young players had the matter not been dealt with the way it was.
According to Boxhill, King and Jamaica will know if the striker has a future with the Reggae Boyz after a board meeting in three weeks time.
With regard to Jamaica making it to the Ghana game just a half hour before kick-off, Boxhill said a 10-minute ride turned an hour long causing the delay and discounted arguments that the team had to turn back for influential defender, Claude Davis.
"Davis drove his car to the hotel and asked permission to drive to the game. I refused and so he took some time to find a driver to drive his car to the game," said Boxhill, saying that the wait took just a few minutes and had no bearing on the Reggae Boyz' late arrival.
NO EXCUSE
"There is absolutely no excuse for the end results and I will not try to either explain or excuse it, whatever the reason. The federation will ensure that this never occurs again," he said.
Comments had also circulated in the media that the JFF was being too extravagant in carrying 14 delegation members for a two-match tour.
However, Boxhill responded by saying that there were negotiations and matters outside of the games themselves that the JFF had to deal with.
"In the context of our goals for this match, every single member had and performed required specialist duties," said Boxhill.
Finally, Boxhill went on to say that the trip to England turned out to be profitable for the JFF.
A report on just how much profit was made will be forthcoming after the board meeting in three weeks.
