Blatter set for Jamaica visit

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

FIFA president Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter will make his third visit to Jamaica on Sunday October 26 as he leads a high-profile delegation that also includes CONCACAF president Jack Warner for the inauguration of the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) Technical Centre; their Goal Project at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona.

The visit will also coincide with the groundbreaking for the second phase of the project that includes the creation of an additional football field and more administrative facilities. This will take place at 10:00 a.m. on the UWI, Mona campus a day after Blatter and his team, which also includes Technical Development Officer Walter Gagg arrive in the island.

During his stay the FIFA president will address the JFF Board of Directors at 4:00 p.m., hours after touching down at the Norman Manley International Airport at 1:30 p.m. He will also attend a cocktail reception in his honour to be hosted by Sports Minister Olivia Grange later on that evening.

Special awards

While at the reception, Blatter will also present special presidential awards to 10 outstanding contributors to the development of local football. The awardees are; percival James Patterson, Edward Seaga, Alan 'Skill' Cole, David 'Billy' Marston, Russell Bell, Neville Glanville, Lincoln 'Happy' Sutherland, John Green, Carlton 'Spanner' Dennis and Weston King.

Speaking from Trinidad and Tobago where he is presently attending the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup, JFF president Captain Horace Burrell described Blatter's impending visit as a mark of respect for the local programme.

"It is certainly an honour and it demonstrates the high regard in which the Jamaica Football Federation is being held by FIFA," said Burrell.

As it relates to the President's Award, Burrell stressed its importance and highlighted the Federation's gratitude to the awardees.

Key figure

"We are happy that we will be able to show special recognition and appreciation to these persons and what we are doing is awarding some of those who have done a great deal for Jamaica's football development," Burrell said.

Patterson was a key figure in the nation's qualification to the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, offering tremendous support through the government, while Seaga continues to play an integral role in the development of club football in Jamaica.

Cole is regarded by many to be the most impressive Jamaican player ever to grace the game, while Marston, Bell and Glanville drove the emergence of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association as the nation's most powerful confederation. St Catherine FA boss Sutherland remains the longest-serving parish president and has over 50 years of service to local football; Green has helped to shape the development of youth football in Jamaica, Bennett remains the backbone of the Santos Football Club while King has been a driving force behind club football in western Jamaica and Montego Bay in particular.

Phase Two of the Goal Project, which is entirely funded by FIFA will be completed at a cost of US$400,000 will also feature office space, dormitories, physio-therapy facilities, gyms and parking lots.