Club development a priority for JFF – Anderson
Published:Friday | October 8, 2021 | 12:09 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Vice-President Raymond Anderson says that the assistance in raising the professional standards of the local top-flight clubs represents a critical part of the administration’s plan to drive the development of football in Jamaica.
He was speaking at the start of a capacity-building workshop to be conducted by members from the Union of European Football Associations’ (UEFA) Assist League Development programme, which started on Tuesday.
The workshop, which is also being staged in partnership with Concacaf, will focus on various topics, which include governance and income generation. The exercise is geared towards the further development of the clubs competing in Jamaica’s top-flight competition, the Jamaica Premier League (JPL).
Coaches and administrators from various JPL clubs were in attendance at Tuesday’s opening session, and Anderson underlined their role in elevating the current standard of football in the island and the need for continued support from the administration.
“It is crucial for the pathway that the JFF is embarking on. One of the pillars of our plan is a partnership with our stakeholders. Professional Football Jamaica Limited and the Premier League clubs are the cornerstone in driving our development plan. We will be working with you, the clubs, in a tangible way to carry out a lot of responsibility going forward,” Anderson said. “Because of that, this JFF will have no reservation in continuing to assist you in any way possible.”
DEVELOP FOOTBALL
The initiative was also backed by Concacaf executive Howard McIntosh, who said that the programme falls within the regional body’s goal to develop football in the area.
McIntosh also charged the clubs to not only embrace the expertise offered, but to engage with the UEFA team in ensuring that they have the tools to improve their respective structures.
“It’s important, especially at this stage, because of the role that the league must play in terms of the development of football in Jamaica. In order to have a sustainable development programme for Jamaica’s football, we need to have a strong JFF, we need to have a strong league, and we need to have strong clubs,” McIntosh said.
“Very soon, the clubs will play a more pivotal role in the governance of football in Jamaica, and so it is important that the clubs build the capacity within their organisations to ensure that they are operating properly,” he added.
The workshop will conclude today.