WESTERN SPORTS - Samuels takes Hanover FA hot seat - Long-serving president, Scringer, loses vote at AGM

Claudia Gardner, Assignment Coordinator

WESTERN BUREAU:

It was a sombre Lorraine Scringer who formally made her exit from the helm of the Hanover Football Association (HFA) last Thursday at the annual general meeting of the organisation which she served as president for 19 consecutive years.

The meeting, held at Watson Taylor Park, Lucea, saw the official installation of former national youth footballer Sheridan Samuels, as president, and his slate of seven other executive members, as well as four council members.

Samuels served as Scringer's general secretary for most of her tenure as well as vice-president. He was also considered one of her most loyal allies.

She was the first and only woman to lead a football parish association in Jamaica, but was ousted from the position a week ago after she failed to secure the minimum of three votes from the HFA's 16 affiliates, which is required to validate her nomination.

"The delegates have spoken and they have nominated a new board. I wish, for all, every success," she said.

"I hope football in Hanover will grow from strength to strength. At the end of it, football should be the winner," Scringer said in her address.

NEW EXECUTIVE

Samuels' new executive includes Craig Oates, first vice-president; Oniel Kentish, second vice-president; Kenneth Williams, third vice-president; Linton Stewart, general secretary; Daren Barnes, treasurer; Leon Cunningham, executive officer; Akilah Karam, assistant secretary; and Peter Doman, assistant treasurer.

The four council members appointed are: Errol Jumpp, Stanley McIntyre, Trevor Craig and Roy Campbell.

In his address, Samuels urged the executive to live up to their commitment to serve the best interests of football in the parish.

"What we are going to do is to measure how hard these persons work … . I've been in football administration for about 15, or so, years now, and many council members come on election night, get elected and do nothing at all. Now we don't want anything like that. They are going to work because they are the ones who are going to be on the ground," he said'

Samuels was supported by Vice-President Oates, who said mediocrity and indiscipline will not be tolerated at any level, and that this applied to himself and members of the incoming executive.

"If after two years, football is at the same level where it is now in the parish, I beg you vote us out. Because if that's the case, we do not deserve to be there," he said.