Gordon Robinson | Captain, the ship is sinking

So the administration of Jamaica’s football is in disarray.

After their draw in Suriname, the Boyz, not for the first time, suffered considerable travel delays, inconvenience and embarrassment. It triggered an intemperate response. They sent a very public tirade to the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). It included:

“The players were up until 3 a.m. on the morning of the [Suriname] match, tackling [JFF] leaders after finding out our flight arrangements back to Jamaica haven’t been properly booked…On June 5th, 2022 at 6:38 p.m. (Ja Time), we’re stuck in Suriname and our flight arrangements are yet to be confirmed. To make matters worse, we found out the Surinamese National Team will be arriving in Jamaica before us, the Jamaican National Team.”

This is a justifiable complaint. However, why make it immediately public? At the highest, the Reggae Boyz’s complaint is of alleged incompetence. Their public rant smells like intent to undermine.

It gets worse. The Boyz lament continued:

“This has been another example of incompetence displayed by [JFF] leaders … . This has been our reality as Reggae Boyz for far too long. We haven’t been prepared to be successful and when we’re not, we the players get all the blame. When, in fact, it’s more than just what happens on the field. Time and time again, JFF shows us they don’t care about the players or the state of Jamaica’s football.

WE ARE DRAINED. WE ARE TIRED. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.”

The Boyz insisted their complaint wasn’t about money:

“We want to make it clear this is not about the money. Despite not being paid for months, we still accepted the call and represented for the Jamaican people. For us, it’s more about the lack of respect, transparency and communication. We all signed a contract that the JFF has breached multiple times. Some of the things included in the contract is proper hotel accommodations and travel arrangements. Yet still, we arrived to Suriname to couch beds. Shamar Nicholson and Ravel Morrison, among others, didn’t join the team because of poor travel arrangements. What’s meant to be a 2-4 hours flight turns into an around-the-world trip. There were several instances where players arrive to the airport and, to their surprise, no flight has been booked. The JFF constantly tries to cut cost that affects our preparation.”

But it’s ALWAYS about the money. The root of the Boyz’s complaint is that JFF spends less on travel arrangements than it should.

TOO FAR

The Boyz closed with a bang heard around Jamaica:

“WE NEED A CHANGE. WE NEED BETTER LEADERSHIP. WE ARE CALLING FOR THE GENERAL SECRETARY DALTON WINT TO RESIGN. THE PLAYERS WILL NO LONGER REPRESENT THE COUNTRY UNTIL HE DOES.”

This is a bridge too far. Players have every right to complain to JFF and, if complaints aren’t addressed satisfactorily, make a choice. They are professionals. They can play on for the love of Jamaica. Or they can walk away and pursue their livelihoods elsewhere.

In my opinion, it’s not okay for players to threaten to derail JFF’s depleted fiscal assets by refusing to play in a game for which tickets are already sold and they already accepted selection.

After the game, they can withdraw if conditions don’t suit. Don’t threaten to disrupt a game unless a specified individual resigns. That’s not cricket. Nor football. There’s a non-sporting name for it.

JFF also handled the matter badly. If the complaints are justified, the blame can’t be the General Secretary’s alone. First JFF sacrificed Tappa; now Wint. Who next? How do the Boyz translate getting rid of one man into “better leadership”? The entire JFF board must accept responsibility for the fiasco. It should resign en bloc. Cutting travel costs to the team’s detriment can never be a one-man decision or policy. It’s a JFF policy.

Like Joni Mitchell sang in Big Yellow Taxi:

“Don’t you know that’s how it go

that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone?”

Captain, the ship is sinking!

Peace and Love!

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.