THE EDITOR, Sir:

I AM sure I am not the only Jamaican who was more than a little disappointed in Asafa Powell after hearing his post-race, trackside interview following his win at a grand prix track meet recently.

He came across as cocky, arrogant and a "motormouth", in other words just like an American sprinter. Jamaica is badly in need of some role models and, like it or not, he is one. Asafa already owns the world record and the 'talkfest' is unnecessary. The entire Jamaica knows he is the best and the world does as well.

I have never seen him finish a race and appear fully extended. In fact, I am yet to see him lunge at a finish line and he always goes across it running upright. My only concern is that he suffers no injury and gets to meet Justin Gatlin one of these days. I prefer the old Asafa - less talk and more action. Remember "cock mouth kill cock".

I am, etc.,

ROBERT MITCHELL

mitcib@yahoo.ca

Christiana P.O., Manchester

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE JAMAICA Football Federation (JFF) needs to get rid of the current coach and its president, Crenston Boxhill.

It was a national disgrace the way theteam played on June 3 against England. We need to get a new foreign technical director and we need to reinstate Captain Horace Burrell.

I can assure you that no good foreign team will play Jamaica within the short term as we have lost all credibility. All the Jamaican communities and second generation Jamaicans here in the UK are complaining. Something needs to be done because unless the JFF replaces Boxhill and the current coaching staff, I can assure you the Jamaican team will loose all support in the UK.

It is a total disgrace and all the former UK-based players were complaining here in the press and on radio. I hope something will be done in the short term to remove the current football management.

I am, etc.,

CLAUDIUS ALLEN

Claudius.Allen@odpm.

gsi.gov.uk

THE EDITOR, Sir:

LET'S CALL a spade a spade. Jamaica's football is backtracking fast because of the change in administration.

With their crab in a barrel mentality, they pulled down the last administration. Instead of admiring the achievements, they found every reason to criticise.

What are the facts? The Burrell administration took us to every age group world final except the Olympics and we allow this administration to talk nonsense about building programmes while we are reduced to jokers at the world level in all competitions.

We had a president who had influence with FIFA and was a leader in the region. Now we have an administration that is not even influential locally. I believe influence at high levels counts for something, whether we like it or not.

We have a technical director who has technical deficiencies as a coach. How can we attract the right sponsorship with this pack of jokers?

We have a set of media commentators that continually apologise for this cruel joke that has been perpetuated on our football programme, with the notable exceptions of Simon Crosskill, Oral Tracey and Jeffrey Maxwell; they demonstrate everyday the reasons why our football is in a freefall.

If we are going to get back to the World Cup finals we need to replace these misfits and ask Captain Burrell to start building a programme for South Africa in 2010.

I am, etc.,

O. FISHER

otisfi@yahoo.com

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I AM puzzled by the selectors of the West Indies cricket with regards to their bowling selections.

It is clear to me that the bowlers selected over the past few years are not up to Test cricket standards. They can scrape through in one day games but not at Test levels.

The Caribbean surely has many others to choose from but the present selectors refuse to give new people a chance. Why do they persist with this set of so called fast bowlers.

They run half a mile trying to deliver a fast ball, but cannot control the delivery, overstep and deliver no balls too frequently.

I played a lot of cricket in my younger days and was quite successful in fast bowling and cannot remember being no-balled for overstepping.

I am asking the selectors; please try some new bowlers, they cannot be worse than these. This lot carries loser certificates. They specialise in keeping opposing batsmen happy and comfortable, seeming to enjoy watching the ball running for four or high overhead for six.

In trying to rebuild a good bowling attack I suggest the present selectors also resign; give someone else a chance, they cannot be as useless or worse than this lot is.

I am, etc.,

LES FRANCIS

lesmond72@yahoo.com