Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sport
Captain Horace Burrell
JAMAICA'S low ranking by the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) is affecting its chances of attracting top-ranked opponents for friendly international matches.
"In recent times, we've tried to get a number of friendly internationals and in most cases we've been flatly turned down," Captain Horace Burrell, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), told The Gleaner in an interview.
He added: "The reason given in most cases is that they weren't interested as we were too lowly placed on the FIFA listing.
"We are determined to turn this around, however, and during this month we will play a total of five international matches and we will be going all out to win all of them, thus further improving our ranking."
The Reggae Boyz are currently ranked 97th, eight places up from its all-time low position last week when they hammered St Vincent and the Grenadines 5-1 at the National Stadium.
Since, the Jamaicans have drawn 1-1 with regional arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago in Trinidad on Saturday and today they will take on Grenada in the Spice Isles.
They will make their 2010 World Cup qualifying debut on Sunday against The Bahamas at the National Stadium, a two-game series that will conclude the following Wednesday with a return game at the multi-purpose stadium in Trelawny. The return tie should actually have been the Bahamas' home game, but FIFA says their stadium is unsuitable for its official matches.
Tougher opposition
Because the Boyz are expected to eliminate The Bahamas and move on to face tougher opposition in the qualifiers, Burrell noted that the JFF aims to lure stiffer teams to enhance its preparation.
"We are continuing to negotiate with a number of countries in Africa and Europe."
He added: "I feel very confident at this time that our football programme is on track. However, we'll have to sustain this pace.
"I think also we have a very talented group of players and they are fortunate to have among them a number of experienced foreign-based players," he continued.
"If there's one regret that I have, it'd be not having started this extensive programme a year earlier on as we would have been able to play together a little bit more and so by now we'd almost be unbeatable by any team in this region."
Burrell returned to the helm of Jamaica's football unopposed at its voting congress in November last year, replacing Crenston Boxhill who had unseated him in a close ballot four years earlier.
When the team returns from its eastern Caribbean tour, Burrell says because the qualifiers will be on in earnest, they hope to have the squad preparing as much as possible.
Games in england
"The plan is to keep them together," he said. "This is why it is important to have a good relationship with the English Football Association. The nucleus of players we have play in the British leagues."
He added: "The FA has said that our matter will be discussed at their next board meeting. We should hear from them in another 90 days.
"We're hoping to stage a few games in the United Kingdom, even outside the FIFA period. This, we feel, will make it easier for the clubs to release players for the games in Europe, which naturally, would prevent the players from flying across the Atlantic to other destinations."
Currently negotiating
The JFF is currently negotiating with English football authorities to settle an outstanding debt accrued under the last administration, as well as a deal with airline carriers Virgin Atlantic to get reduced fares for the country's ballers, most of whom play professionally with clubs based in Britain and other parts of Europe.
"We're currently in the final phase of discussions with Virgin and very soon we hope to sign a deal which is satisfactory to both parties," stated Burrell.
"The deal we're currently looking for is one which will provide heavily discounted business class tickets to the team, especially those members travelling from Europe."
