‘It’s not our responsibility’

THE STATE of football fields in Jamaica has once again taken centre stage, becoming the topic of many discussions.

One such discussion brings into question, who should be responsible for the development of fields, given its purportedly close connections to football development.

Chris Williams, chairman of the Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL), is standing behind Reggae Boyz head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson regarding the necessity of having proper playing surfaces to aid football development.

Hallgrimsson had said during an address to the media, “It really affects and controls what kind of football is played in Jamaica. So, coming from a country that is really struggling to grow grass and trees because of cold and darkness, I am amazed that the grass pitches are not better here. And the saddest part of it is that you pass the golf courses, they are like a carpet, and then you come to a football pitch and you don’t know what it is.”

Williams concurred, but pointed to the Jamaica Football Federation’s apparent lack of interest in the issue.

“When I heard the coach say it, I was like, ‘Finally!’ Because it feels like the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is just trying to pick a Reggae Boyz team, and that’s their only focus. We need a plan to develop football, and I’m saying the professional level can’t be played on these surfaces, it’s impossible,” said Williams.

The problem, Williams said, is further compounded by Jamaica Premier League teams who wish to return to playing football at their home venues.

“The clubs wanted to bring the games back to their home and the challenges with the pitches grew, and I can’t mandate that. That has to be mandated by the JFF, that only these four or five pitches are used.

“Now, if we pick those fields, we can then fly to Florida, grab a guy, put him on the ground for about six months and have him build out these four or five fields, lock them up and only allow somebody to touch them if it’s a match day,” Williams said.

But Rudolph Speid, chairman of the JFF’s Technical Committee, while understanding the need for his organisation’s legislative input, was firm about distancing itself from direct involvement in the upgrade and upkeep of fields.

“It’s not our responsibility, it’s an objective. That is why we set in place rules and regulations about the minimum standards of fields, especially to play in the top league. But again, it’s not our responsibility, it’s the responsibility of the clubs and the Government to provide venues for their citizens. The JFF is supposed to provide facilities for the national teams to train. And of course, we can lend them to our stakeholders, but I’ve never heard anyone going around fixing somebody else’s property,” said Speid.

orane.buchanan@gleanerjm.com