Eastern Confed riding the challenges - Lack of sponsorship, poor organisation affecting development

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

The eastern tip of Jamaica has never been considered to be a cradle of footballing talent and, in fact, it's hard for most to remember the last time more than one team from the confederation were involved in the country's top football competition.

Truth be told, there were years when not even one team from that side of the country featured in top-flight football.

Nowadays, the Eastern Confederation is experiencing a mini renaissance of sorts, after St Georges Sports Club's qualification in 2007. The organisation that covers the parishes of St Ann, St Mary, Portland and St Thomas now boasts a second team in Benfica, who have been making some noise in the Digicel Premier League, following their historic qualification this summer.

In days gone by, the Eastern Confederation has qualified a number of teams to the top flight and at one point the parish of St Ann had as many as fours teams in the league in Brazil, Black Stars, Lewis Strikers and Volvo. There were also St Mary's Star Cosmos and the excellent St Thomas Port Morant United team that featured the likes of Trinidad and Tobago internationals Russell Latapy and Leonson Lewis among their ranks, as well as White Horses Rockers.

Another qualifier

With the likes of York United (St Thomas), who were involved in the Premier League play-offs a few years ago, and Star Cosmos, knocking on the door, it may not be too long before the confederation celebrates yet another qualifier.

Chairman, the Reverend Wanel Alexander, is encouraged by the strides being made by teams in the confederation despite the challenges and limitations, and believes Benfica's recent successes is serving as a motivational factor for other teams.

"Actually it (Benfica's qualification) has helped to lift the morale of the entire confederation, especially in light of the fact that we haven't had a sponsor for our Super League competition for the last three years, and seeing Benfica going through without a sponsorship has helped to lift the other teams," shared Alexander.

"The motivational level of the other teams is very high now because they have seen that the possibilities are there for them."

The chairman also credited the improved administrative qualities of the clubs and better coaching for the recent upsurge; a fitting testimony to the ongoing Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and Jamaica Money Market Brokers coaching series and club administration courses.

"We are challenged in the area of administration. Many of the clubs are not really organised, it's just a one-man or two-man show. I've seen some improvements since the JFF has come up with the club administrative courses. We have also seen some improvements in the area of coaching since the advent of the coaching qualifications," Alexander pointed out.

Lack of sponsorship

Despite the general haphazard nature in which clubs are managed, Alexander, a former general secretary of the confederation, highlighted a lack of sponsorship as the main issue that has stumped further development in the region.

In fact, the Eastern Confedera-tion is the only one of the four across the region that has been operating without a sponsor, even in spite of their successes.

"Sponsorship is certainly our major problem, or the lack thereof. Also, when you compare the other confeds we are not in a good position in that area," said Alexander.

Nonetheless, the administrator is focused on continuing the good work of his predecessors and is not prepared to gloat on the recent advances.

"We presently have two teams in the top flight but there is certainly a lot more work to be done. It has certainly lifted the level and we are looking to qualify at least one team from each parish; then we will be able to say we are there," Alexander laughed.

"We have York United from St Thomas and Star Cosmos from St Mary, who are both knocking at the door because these teams were part of the semi-final set-up last season, and based on the quality of play that we have had for the last few years coming from these teams, I was and remain confident that any of these teams can qualify to the premier league," Alexander closed.