KSAFA gets good review from delegates

Delegates at yesterday's KSAFA annual general meeting (AGM) gave the Stewart Stephenson-led administration a passing grade for their term in office.

The delegates, some of whom include Stephenson's harshest critics, say the association is heading in the right direction.

Santos' Carlton 'Spanna' Dennis and Duhaney Park president Darrington Ferguson say the administration has made strides since Stephenson took the reins in 2014, but they are looking for greater benefits to the clubs.

"The council has done a wonderful job. It just needs an improvement of the finance to the clubs," Dennis told The Sunday Gleaner. "I told the president he cannot expect me to give up the front of my shirt and I am not getting anything for it ... If the club (Santos) gets sponsorship, I would like to put them at the front. If I can put both on the front (club and competition sponsors), I won't have a problem, but the back is out," he noted.

Main concerns

Ferguson commended the association while calling for an increase in incentives to the clubs.

"Most of the issues were addressed. The main concerns were how are we going to move forward with finance and development. I believe the administration is putting in the structure to attract both the infrastructure and sponsorship football needs. The next phase is how do the clubs benefit, as development starts from the clubs," he argued.

Ferguson was also pleased with the purchase of a new office building at Beechwood Avenue.

"We are getting a new office, and that is another level of development because KSAFA can say they have a home that is fully paid for ... Now, we must look at how the individual clubs are being developed," he added.

Meanwhile, Stephenson said they had accomplished most of their objectives for the year and he wants clubs to benefit greater in the future.

More consistency

"Over the two years, there were things that were important, such as building the image, credibility and reputation of the association. Getting a more appropriate building to administer KSAFA matters, bringing more consistency to our competitions structure and strengthening the quality of sponsorship and bringing greater benefits to the clubs. I think we have accomplished that," he stated.

He added: "We are completing the sale of our existing office building and we are 99 per cent there. All the legal work has been done and the deposit paid. We are now just waiting on the purchasers to pay over the proceeds, but they are waiting on a title from the bank where we had the mortgage.

"We sold the (former) building for $23 million and there is a mortgage required of $12m. We are going to get about $11m in our hands and we are just waiting on that money, which we expect in two weeks.

"Then we intend to buy a property at 3 Beechwood Avenue, which is right in the New Kingston zone. The clubs discussed it and they accepted it as a good deal," he commented.