THE present financial dilemma in which the Jamaica Football Federation has found itself is rather regrettable when viewed against the background of the tremendous strides football has taken over the years, culminating in Jamaica's participation in the 1998 World Cup in France. Indeed, that was made possible by financial contributions from the private sector, supported to a large extent by grants from the Sports Development Foundation.
The news, therefore, of suspension of the programme as announced by the President of the Federation, Captain Horace Burrell, has sent shock waves through the sporting fraternity and there seems to be little hope of an early resumption, based on the feedback coming out of the West. The JFF has been the beneficiary of substantial funding for the programme over the years, but (and I stand to be corrected), I have never seen any published audited accounts and I wonder if there could be a change in attitude from corporate Jamaica if some financial accounts are presented for public consumption.
It may not be too late, Capt. Burrell, to get the programme back on track, but you may need to convince corporate Jamaica that funds entrusted to the programme are being well spent.
