Jarrett Park to the rescue?

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Following the rejection of the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium as a suitable venue to host games in the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship, Jarrett Park has been identified as a replacement venue to partner Catherine Hall in hosting the 12-team tournament, slated to commence in the next three days.

All parties involved were busy for most of yesterday trying to come up with the best possible solution. The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president, Captain Horace Burrell, spent over three hours locked in a meeting with his executive, while Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Olivia Grange, who has decided to take a hands-on approach to the issue, had ongoing consultation with CONCACAF representatives and the local administration.

At the end of the day, the JFF has identified Jarrett Park as a possible replacement venue. CONCACAF has, however, pointed out some critical infrastructural changes that will have to be made, which JFF has communicated to the Government.

Plan worked out

"We have worked out a plan and it is the Government now that has to determine if we can go forward with that plan," JFF's general secretary, Horace Reid, shared. "If we can go forward with that plan then we would have a tournament. We are looking at Jarrett Park, but there are some structural changes that are going to have to be implemented.

"CONCACAF has made some requests of the JFF that requires government input, so that is where we are, waiting on the Government to tell us if they can meet the request from CONCACAF," he further explained.

The government officials were expected to engage in a meeting late yesterday after which Reid hoped to hear favourable news to take back to CONCACAF.

Time critical

"I was told that they are having a meeting this evening (Thursday) and I would hope to hear from them this evening, as I have to go back to CONCACAF with their decision," Reid said. "Time is of the essence, as games are scheduled for Monday.

"Training at this point is fortunately not of great concern; I think we have located sufficient training pitches," Reid said. It was the only positive news he could share.

Minister Grange could not be reached for a comment, but in a release to the media she expressed "disbelief" at the state of the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium field.

Minister Grange said: "I have received a list of what improvements must be made at Jarrett Park so that it can host the games. I have assigned teams to get the job done and to report to me at all times."

She has subsequently ordered an investigation to determine what went wrong and who should be held responsible, while suspending the work being conducted by the contractor who was hired to prepare the Trelawny Stadium field, pending the investigation.