JFF moving to re-establish vibrant women’s competition
Published:Saturday | February 17, 2024 | 12:09 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
The return of the Jamaica Women’s Premier League (JWPL) last year was not without its challenges.
However, for the 2024 season, chairperson for women’s football, Elaine Walker-Brown, is expecting a much-improved competition.
Walker-Brown said the reorganisation of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) women’s football department, headed by Margaret Sutherland and the establishment of a women’s football board of directors, will give clubs greater say, and help re-establish a competitive and vibrant local women’s competition.
“The approach the clubs took in the early meetings set the tone. They were very attentive, and to the changes in the women’s department they have been very receptive.
“They are going to be more involved as some of them are going to be directors. So they are going to be owners of the product and they will feel more a part of the league,” she said.
In 2015 Sherwin Williams pulled out of sponsoring the women’s league after 14 seasons, and since then the JFF has struggled to re-establish the competition.
Then in 2020 after lack of sponsorship and a number of failed attempts to get the league back up, it was abandoned for three years until last year.
Walker-Brown said during that time many young local female players missed out on opportunities.
As a result, finding and bringing new players to the fore will be one of their first objective.
“We want to ensure that we are reaching out to little girls who want to play football and give them that opportunity.
“There is a lot of interest in Jamaica (women’s football) and players (overseas) are playing at a high level. So we need to unearth some more of those and ensure that they end up on the world stage,” she continued.
“But Jamaica and the corporate community need to help. We want them to come and help us add to the grassroots level and get our young girls more equipped to get them where we want.
“We need to get them to universities where they can reach to that level and get that exposure. So we really want corporate Jamaica, not only at the senior level, but also at the grassroots level to help with the development,” Walker-Brown said. “The next two to three years we want to fully re-establish the league and do what we can to help these young girls.”
Marcia Pinnock, manager of defending champions Frazsiers Whip, said last season the main challenges the clubs had were financial, but with Sherwin Williams returning as sponsor and with the improvements in administration, she anticipates a much improved competition this year.
“Last year it ran well. The only hiccups we experienced were financial. So now we do have a sponsor we expect it will be smoother.
“The things they are putting in place will make it a better league. So I am looking forward to a successful competition again.
“It will showcase young upcoming talent that will eventually or hopefully represent Jamaica at the highest level,” she said.
Meanwhile, JFF president Michael Ricketts said the local women’s league is crucial in keeping the nation’s women’s football legacy alive.
“We are very excited by the prospects. We want to ensure that we maintain the legacy of our women’s programme. So we were very intent on having a proper tier one woman’s competition.
“We have put a task force in place to ensure that everything is organised. And the players will be a little more motivated having seen our team (Reggae Girlz) qualify for two consecutive global tournaments. That in itself ought to be a catalyst,” Ricketts said.