Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau:
The impasse between the leadership of the Jamaica Football Federation's Western Confederation (JFFWC) and the Western Referee's Group (WRG), which resulted in the cancellation of last weekend's scheduled games in the 2006-07 Captain's Bakery Western Super League, is now settled.
Representatives of the two groups, who were at odds over unresolved differences from last year, decided to bury the hatchet following a meeting, in Montego Bay, on Wednesday night, which was presided over by JFF vice-president, Linnel McLean.
Chairman of the WRG, Texchus Nembhard, who told The Gleaner last week that his group would not officiate in any games unless JFFWC chairman, Everton Tomlinson, and vice-chairman, Sheridan Samuels, apologised for derogatory remarks they had made about him and by extension the group, confirmed that the impasse is now over.
"The matter is now settled and we are now ready to start officiating in this competition," Nembhard told The Gleaner, yesterday. "We have decided to put this matter behind us in the best interest of football."
Pleased with outcome
Tomlinson, who said he was ready to apologise if the WRG could prove that he had done something wrong, told The Gleaner yesterday that he was pleased with the outcome of Wednesday night's meeting and was now looking forward to an amicable relationship with the WRG.
"At the end of the day we are all servants of football and we just have to find ways to put our differences behind us in the best interest of the game," said Tomlinson. "Our focus is now on getting the competition started and having a good season."
The competition, which is sponsored to the tune of J$1.1 million and features 12 teams from the parishes of Trelawny, St. James, Westmoreland and Hanover, is now slated to kick off tomorrow with a full slate of matches in the two zones.
The teams, according to their respective zones and parishes, are as follows: Zone A - Negril (Westmore-land), Mt. Salem (St. James), Orange Hill (Hanover), Bamboo (Hanover), Black Diamond (St. James) and Sandy Bay (Hanover). Zone B - Montpelier (Hanover), Grange Hill (Westmoreland), Granville (St. James), Clarke's Town (Trelawny), Salt Spring (St. James) and Holland (Trelawny).
"We are happy that the matter is settled because this competition was originally slated to start from last year," said Tracy Reid, coach of the Granville team. "My players are ready and raring to go."
