JFF offers Clarke burial assistance

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Michael Ricketts has responded to the Reggae Girlz Foundation’s initiation of a funeral and memorial drive for late player Tarania ‘Plum Plum’ Clarke.

Clarke, who also captained Waterhouse’s women’s team as a central defender, was stabbed to death by an alleged friend in what was reported to be a dispute over a cell phone in Half Way Tree on October 31.

The foundation has targeted US$10,000 (just under J$1.5 million) to assist Clarke’s family with funeral and family associated costs. It said that any funds in excess of that figure will be used to create a Reggae Girlz Foundation memorial scholarship in Clarke’s honour to help young girls in her community for years to come.

JFF not opposed

Ricketts, who said that the JFF does not oppose the drive, said his only issue is that the foundation initiated it without any discussions with the governing body.

“The truth is that we have a relationship with the foundation,” Ricketts said. “In fact, I am a member of the board. However, unfortunately, they started the discussions before talking to us. [On Saturday] they apologised.

They said they just initiated a discussion with a few persons and were preparing an email to send to us. We are not going give it a fight, in fact, we want to support it.

“The only issue is that we thought they would have discussed it with us first and foremost. We will support it. As it relates to the insurance, yes, she was insured, and we starting the process, but that will take some time.”

Ricketts said that the JFF believes it has a part to play in the burial process and in insurance arrangements.

“We have committed ourselves to that,” he said. “They had a wake the other night and we contributed. So, of course, we will give some support, we have an obligation to do so.”

Clarke will be laid to rest on December 15.