Turbulent waters ahead

THERE IS a conflict brewing in the Reggae Girlz camp involving Reggae Girlz ambassador Cedella Marley, chairperson for women’s football at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Elaine Walker-Brown, and head coach Lorne Donaldson just ahead of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Gleaner sources revealed there was a recent meeting, which included Marley via telephone, and that Walker-Brown made comments the Reggae Girlz ambassador found offensive.

It is understood that the incident led to Walker-Brown being barred from travelling on the Reggae Girlz bus for a recent excursion to Dunn’s River Falls by Donaldson.

Walker-Brown, who insists she will not be accepting an apology, said the confrontation with Donaldson was “embarrassing”.

The connection between that incident and the previous meeting was made by the Gleaner source, who has wished to remain nameless because he or she has not been authorised to speak on the issue.

“There was a meeting and she (Walker-Brown) was upset because they (Donaldson and Marley) were behaving like it is their personal programme. Cedella was on an open phone and she (Walker-Brown) vehemently objected to some of the things that were being said. Then somebody said that she disrespected Cedella and that it will not go like that,” the source revealed.

Another source also made a connection between the incidents.

“It all stemmed from Cedella being upset with Elaine over what was said on a call.”

When contacted, Walker-Brown would not admit or deny a conflict with Marley, saying only that she believes Donaldson is just a pawn in an attempt to get at her.

According to Walker-Brown, as someone who has given more than three decades of service to women’s football, she felt extremely embarrassed by Donaldson’s snub.

“It was a little embarrassing. It was the ministry that sent us. When I went on the bus, he said I cannot go on the bus,” she said.

Walker-Brown went on to point out that the snub was not a matter of principle but was directly pointed at her because the ministry had sent two chaperones but she was the only one asked to leave.

“She told him she was not from the JFF, but the ministry and he told her she can go, but I can’t. He didn’t even make a call or anything to verify that.

“If I wanted to go he could not stop me but I said I wouldn’t go because I don’t want anyone to fall out of line and I end up being disrespected,” said Walker-Brown.

She added that. “Somebody asked why the team needed a chaperone. But this is the Reggae Girlz. There are things they will need on a journey and somebody has to be there.

“If the (sports) minister hadn’t put me there, I would not have gone. It was so embarrassing when the coach told me that I could not travel,” she said.

The issue is not at its end either, with Walker-Brown saying that in addition to the incident, there were a number of other issues that Donaldson had to answer for.

Efforts to get a response from Marley and Donaldson were unsuccessful.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com