The 2014 World Cup campaign got off to a winning start as 81^st FIFA ranked Jamaica, defeated their 56^th ranked CONCACAF neighbors Canada 1-0 at home on Sunday January 31, 2010,  with a goal in the second half by speedy striker Luton Shelton. After missing numerous chances, the persistent pressure paid off and the game also saw the introduction of five young Boyz. The thrill of victory was however short-lived as two days later the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) reported a financial loss of $4.8 million dollars to host the game. This may just force the JFF to travel three or four times to play some friendly games and earn some income before playing a game at home on a regular basis.

Approximately two months ago, after being in Office for two years, the JFF’s General Secretary, Horace Reid, in the absence of President, Captain Horace Burrell, announced that the JFF is in serious financial crisis after inheriting a debt of over $100 million dollars from the previous administration led by Crenston Boxhill. Mr. Reid stated that the JFF was unable to meet their financial obligations, make payments on bank loans, and was only making part payment of staff salaries. Let me first ask a few questions:

1.    How could the organization in-charge of the number one sport in the country and the world rake up a debt of $115 million dollars?

2.    What was the debt when the Captain’s team was voted out of Office?

3.    What was the debt when they returned to Office four years later?

4.    If there are bank loans, how much were the value of these loans, how the cash was spent, and when did the JFF enter into these arrangements?

5.    On what grounds were the projections made to service these loans, and what caused their failures? 

Earlier, the JFF was quoted as saying that Bailiffs, acting on behalf of a Sports Marketing firm out of England, visited their Offices with court documents to confiscate assets for outstanding monies totaling $1.4 million dollars, for services rendered in 2006 during that ill-fated tour of England. Jamaica was beaten 6-0 and 4-1 by England and Ghana respectively under the Boxhill administration. There was an amicable solution with commitment to make payments. Two months later, no follow-up word on this situation.

Between 1994 and 1998, there was a dream, a plan, decisive action, good management and a great football plan, which resulted in Jamaica’s historic participation in the 1998 World Cup (WC) finals in France in 1998. That was a successful blue print to follow with a few changes here and there for repeat success, but there have been a few mishaps and failures in the past eleven years, namely:

1.    Captain Burrell being voted out of Office in 2003, due mainly to what many pundits said was his arrogance and failure to listen to others around him.

2.     Jamaica’s failure to reach three subsequent WC finals in 2002, 2006 and 2010 after the 1998 success. This was even made worst when Jamaica failed to reach the six team CONCACAF final round play-off in 2006 and 2010. On these two occasions we lost the opportunity to:

a.    play ten WC qualifying games

b.    host five of these games at home and earn much needed income

c.    consistently improve and maintain a high ranking on the FIFA list

The regular and/or long inactivity of the team has added more distress to the situation as the 2009 December FIFA ranking listed Jamaica at position 81, which has further implications to our local based players not being able to earn contracts and work permits to ply their trade in England.  A major eligibility to earn a work permit is that the country of such a player must have an average ranking of between 1 and 75 over the past two years hence these players have to look to Norway, Belgium, USA and other countries. Over the next two years, Jamaica needs to play regularly and defeat teams that are ranked between 40 and 60 on the FIFA list, or register 4 nil wins over lower ranked teams at least twice per month, which will ultimately improve their rankings. The recent achievement of Egypt attaining top ten FIFA ranking can attest to this. The Captain could turn his attention to Egypt for one of the next FIFA date as both teams will not be in South Africa. An obvious fact that some football fans will not readily accept, is that the quality and pace of our premier league does not afford us the opportunity to select a local based team that can be very competitive on the international stage. The quality of the premier league is not improving as a wholesome product, even with the increase sponsorship and improved management. When playing on the FIFA dates, Jamaica must always field the best possible team available, even if it means that the eighteen players are based overseas, but this needs sponsorship.

It is hard to accept the fact that the sport of football has the most sponsorship and support, yet the governing body, the JFF, has a debt of over $100 million dollars. $18 million dollars of this total was incurred under the previous Administration when they hosted and fail to qualify from the final round of CONCACAF qualifiers for the U17 World Cup in 2007. On the subject of sponsorship, it is interesting to note that 70% of the top leagues in the thirteen parishes and the Confederations are sponsored by THE CAPTAIN’S BAKERY, a company owned by the President of the JFF. I will ask these questions:

1.    Is this a conflict of interest?

2.    Is this a breach of FIFA code of Ethics?

3.    Are these sponsorships “SECURING HIS POSITION IN THE JFF”?

As an astute businessman, the Captain can never be faulted for ‘PUTTING HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS“, as this move is a marketing business decision.  Would you really expect the President of the JFF to sponsor netball, cricket or athletics and not his sport? Surely not... Mr. George Evans, of the St. James Football Association, an organization that has been in the wilderness for sometime now, stated on television, “Corporate Jamaica needs to step-up to the plate and support  the sport as there would be no football in many Parishes if there was no Captain’s Bakery”. That is a line echoed by many who has benefited from the Captain’s generosity.

Is Captain the right and best man for the job of President?  Many would say yes, because of his track record, knowledge, his circle of football associates and what he can bring to the table. It was rumored, that former JFF Treasurer and present President of the Kingston & St. Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), Rudolph Speid, had declared his intent to challenge for the post at the November 2010 JFF Congress. The Captain’s immediate response was to call a Board meeting, which many people viewed as a KANGAROO COURT, then issue a “severe reprimand with a threat for further sanction” to Mr. Speid for failure to ‘accurately and completely report on the affairs of the JFF during his tenure in Office. I do believe Mr. Spied did submit audited accounts at the last Congress which were ratified. This reprimand seems to have silenced Mr. Speid as he has not responded nor clarify the rumor of his candidacy. In my assumption the Captain would have scored 1 and Mr. Speid 0 at the end of this game. Former FIFA Referee and International Cricket Council Elite Umpire, Steve Bucknor, was being touted as a possible candidate but his response was ‘only a mad man would challenge for the Post against someone who is sponsoring 7-8 leagues in the country’. Again, Captain 1, Bucknor 0 at the end of that game, so at this time it seems the Captain is guaranteed another four year term in office.

Being in the dark, the silly question I am asking, why would a successful businessman spend nearly $15 million dollars annually in sponsorship money to secure the Presidency of an organization that is $115 million dollars in debt? Will someone enlighten me here?

We now eagerly await the JFF’s business plan of recovery that will solve this financial crisis over the shortest period, as the football plan on the field started on January 31, 2010 with that victory. Ten days later on February 10, they will travel to 8^th ranked Argentina for another game. I have always thought that it was an easier task to qualify for the 2006 and 2010 World Cup finals because we had a larger pool of players on the international circuit, so our failures on both occasions must had been coaching and management deficiencies. It may be a wise decision for the JFF to revisit the blue print of the 1994 to 1997 programme and make the necessary adjustments. There is even more personnel available now with the advent of the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA), the administrators of the premier league, as they are successful business people with vast amount of football knowledge.

So with all the present problems, Captain Horace Burrell pulled-up anchor and set sail his ship, with little sponsorship and supporting fans on Sunday January 31, 2010. I implore all the football fans and well wishers to support the Captain on this journey as there are high expectations to dock in Brazil in 2014, at the World Cup finals, but the Captain surely knows “THAT BY THE SWEAT OF YOUR BROW, YOU SHALL EAT BREAD”.

The views expressed with IN THE HOUSE are not necessarily those of Jamaica soccer league.