Cameron: I believe we can do a better job

In his quest to wrestle the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) presidency from incumbent Michael Ricketts, challenger Raymond Anderson has recruited a high-powered team of sports administrators.

Among the big wigs the JFF vice-president has convinced to join his team is former Cricket West Indies president Dave Cameron.

Cameron stood at the helm of regional cricket from 2013 to 2019, and his decision to go into football administration rather than back into cricket has come as a big surprise to many observers.

However, Cameron says his experience as a member of the JFF governance review committee and players contract negotiation team has shown him there is a great need for quality administrators in the JFF.

He said Anderson was one who supported him in some trying times at their committee meetings and that he joined his team because the former St Mary FA president reached out to him.

“I have always been involved with sport. I play squash, I do handgun shooting, I now play golf. I am also a representative of the Jamaica four-ball team that leaves this week for Nassau.

“So I am a true lover of sports. I am an administrator because I understand a little bit more of what is required to make sports successful, and so I offered myself,” he said.

“The truth is Raymond invited me to be a part of his team. When I was in the (committee meeting) room and things got difficult, he was one of the persons who supported me in ensuring that we were successful in carrying out the programmes.”

Although he did not jump to accept the invitation immediately, he said the vision and plan that Anderson has to grow the sport was what really convinced him.

“When he reached out to me, I asked him what were his plans to grow the sport in Jamaica, and Raymond’s vision is growing the game from the grass roots up. It is not just about players, and that is the part that we have been missing.

TECHNICAL PEOPLE

“The players are just part of it. We need to ensure the fans, administrators, coaches, the technical people around the sport are also growing.

“I know this sport is all about the guys on the field, but for the sport to grow, we need better coaches, better referees, administrators, and technical personnel, and Raymond’s vision is all about that.”

He pointed out that Anderson intends to make his administration a transparent one and that this type of approach pleased him.

“We need to be transparent, and we need to administrate all the way up. Explain to the people exactly what are the reasons for your decisions, and so far, Raymond has given me the view that he is somebody that embodies that kind of approach.”

Cameron currently chairs the Anderson campaign committee but remains at the disposal of the candidate with regard to which role he might fill on his slate.

“I am at the mercy of Raymond, and I will be whatever the group decides they want me to be. Even if it is just someone supporting the group and giving them advice as a consultant with the football programme,” he declared.

Cameron believes the Michael Ricketts administration has fallen short of expected standards and said Anderson’s team, with the credible and competent personnel on board, can offer something better.

“It (current JFF) can be better, and that is what we offer. We offer an improvement. There have been some missteps, and I believe we can do a better job.

“I am very impressed with the persons he (Anderson) has assembled. In all their endeavours they have displayed the right character, and that is why I am there. I certainly believe that this team can move the football forward or I wouldn’t be a part of this team,” he said.

Anderson’s campaign team also includes Kingston and St Andrew Football Association president Mark Bennett; Denzil Wilkes, former Sports Development Foundation general manager and current University of the West Indies (UWI) athletics development and training manager; Jackie Cummings, lawyer and sports administrator; and sports marketer Carole Beckford.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com