By Nodley Wright, Freelance WriterFORMER KINGSTON and St. Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) president, Stewart Stephenson, has all but ruled himself out of the race for president of the Jamaica Football Federation, giving the incumbent president, Captain Hoarse Burrell, one less person to worry about in the upcoming elections.
Stephenson, whose name was being whispered as a possible challenger to the former army man, told The Gleaner that he had given thought to the matter but said he is unlikely to take it much further.
"For some time a number of people have been asking me to consider running. I have considered it and it does not seem very likely," said Stephenson, speaking from his office in Cuba where he serves Jamaica's ambassador.
Elaborating, Stephenson said that he was in a full time job and did not foresee that situation changing before the end of the year or early next year.
"Will there be support?," he asked. "The president is still there and I have not heard that he will be resigning."
Burrell has been the country's football boss since 1994 when he completed the term of then president, Heron Dale.
However there is a school of thought within football circles that he'll face his strongest challenge yet come November 23 when the elections take place at the Starfish Family Resort in Trelawny.
At the last elections in 1998 it was expected that Stephenson would have mounted a challenge but, he decided against it when it became clear that there wasn't going to be a clear vacancy.
In an off-the-cuff analysis of the prevailing sentiment regarding the presidential candidacy, Stephenson said that expectations had gone up.
"It cannot be denied that Burrell has done a lot of work. But there is still more to be done. It may be that there is stagnation and what the people are looking for is rejuvenation. They are probably anxious to see new wind," he reasoned.
"I gather that nominations will close at the end of September and I do not see myself leaving here before December so I do not think (entering the race) is very practical right now."
As for serving in absentia, Stephenson, who served as Jamaica's Consul General in Toronto before taking up his role as Ambassador in Cuba, said that was out.
"What? For football I do not think that it is possible," said the man.
