Valentine launches SCFA presidential manifesto

St Catherine Football Association (SCFA) president candidate, Ricardo Valentine, expects a comfortable victory over his opponent, Elaine Walker-Brown, at the association’s annual general meeting and selection of officers on October 20.

Valentine, who is being endorsed by former president Peter Reid, told The Gleaner at the launch of his manifesto that he knows that he has the overwhelming support of the clubs and expects what he describes as an easy win against his highly respected opponent.

“I expect to win and win quite easily,” he said. “I have majority support from the clubs. They know me, and know I am the person to lead this parish,” he said. “I am happy she (Walker-Brown) has put herself forward to serve. Our past president (Reid) tried to get her to help. She declined. Now she wants to lead the association. That means she is ready to offer herself, and we have no problem. I wish her the best.

“But I hope after the election, the type of communication she is having with the clubs continues and she genuinely tries to help the clubs and that it’s not about getting a seat or position. But I have no problem with her. She is someone I speak with. I respect her and what she has done in football even though our parish has not benefited a lot from it.”

SUCCESSION PLAN

Valentine said that under Reid, the SCFA made strides and he intends to move the association into the next phase, which is why it is on a succession plan.

“A lot of us are from the incumbent, so we have done the job,” he said. “The things we highlighted did not come by chance. There are plans we want to develop and build on. There are things we are going to do a bit differently as there is always going to be a change in focus areas when you have a new administration. So we certainly will go into areas we have not gone before, but these are plans we would have had within the association for 10 years.”

Valentine says the SCFA would become the top parish association in the near future.

“We are not very far from KSAFA (Kingston and St Andrew Football Association), and in another year or two, we will be the best in Jamaica. We respect our neighbours, KSAFA, but we feel our teams will start to outperform them in the next three years, and that is how confident we are about moving football,” he said.

Valentine’s slate includes Roy Simpson, first vice-president; Craig Richards, second vice-president; Julius Thompson, treasurer; Norman Blair, general secretary; Laurence Garriques, assistant secretary treasurer; Stafford Chang, Marcia Pinnock, and Ainsley Sharpe (council members).

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Valentine’s manifesto

n Amendment of the SCFA constitution to limit presidencies to a maximum of two terms.

n Reduce number of votes to clubs from two to one.

n Play a greater role in assisting clubs to understand international transfer market, reaping benefits of solidarity payments for player development.

n Revive women’s football competition, with the addition of another division.

n Improve the physical, managerial infrastructure of the clubs with more workshops, seminars, and courses.

n Include more clubs in Lincoln ‘Happy’ Sutherland Knock Out Competition.