Burrell, James lead race for CFU presidency

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president, Captain Horace Burrell, is among four persons who have been officially nominated for the top football post in the Caribbean - that of Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president.

The other three men up for the post to be decided on November 20 when an extraordinary congress convenes in Montego Bay, Jamaica, are Jamaica's Tony James, Antigua's Gordon Derrick and Trinidad and Tobago's Harold Taylor.

The post became vacant after former CFU and CONCACAF president, Austin 'Jack' Warner, resigned from all his football positions on June 20 following his suspension by the world football governing body, stemming from bribery allegations surrounding the FIFA elections.

Burrell has been the first vice-president of the CFU for over a decade and is the only nominee who currently holds a post among the regional executive. Of the other three nominees, only Derrick is currently is a member of the CFU, being the general secretary of the Antigua Football Federation.

Burrell is expressing confidence that when the members of the 30 countries that make up the CFU meet he will be appointed president.

"I have been the vice-president for way over a decade and I have gained tremendous experience over the years," Burrell shared. "I am also in close contact with my colleagues throughout the region and I have over the years developed a very good relationship with all the members."

He added: "Therefore, I am confident that come the 20th of November I will receive enough support to install me as the next CFU president."

Burrell, who has also expressed an interest in the job of CONCACAF president, is focusing on the CFU post at hand and filling the void left by Warner.

"President Jack Warner did a great deal for the development of football within the CFU and CONCACAF and has set the bar at a high level," Burrell declared.

"Therefore, the challenge is to try and maintain the levels set by President Warner," he added.

James, who is a former president of the JFF, explained his reason for putting himself up for the post.

"I think we need to bring healing and unity to the various factions that have developed recently in the Caribbean by providing experienced and effective leadership," James stated.

"I don't go into elections and these positions frivolously, so if I didn't feel I can win I wouldn't be in there," he added.

James, who is a past member of the CFU executive and currently a member of FIFA's Youth Committee, was nominated by The Bahamas and has also received the backing of Bermuda and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

He is, however, not willing to make predictions pertaining to the likely outcome of the election until the ethics committee, which is looking into the bribery allegations, hands down its ruling next month.

"The Caribbean Union is in turmoil, so it is difficult to even say who is supporting who until FIFA's ethics committee has decided who is eligible to be a delegate and even who is eligible to be nominated."