‘Gross incompetence’

Experienced football administrator Carvel Stewart has blasted the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) administration after the latest mishap involving travelling players and has called on the organisation’s top brass to resign.

Stewart warned that continued issues relating to international travel will affect the national teams’ ability to perform at their best and believe the JFF administration has consistently proven their incompetence in management issues.

Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz were scheduled to play Japan tomorrow in Sapporo, but the game was cancelled because there are not enough national players available for the match to go ahead due to COVID-19 screening issues, which grounded six England-based players.

Only 10 players were in Japan up to early yesterday, after several England-based players were barred from boarding their connecting flight in Amsterdam, after they failed to produce an approved polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which is required for entry into the country. The players had tests done from the mouth and nostrils, but Japan only accepts PCR tests done from the nostrils.

Stewart says that there is no reason why this could not have been avoided and has slammed the administration for not improving on the various missteps experienced in previous international friendlies overseas.

“It’s gross incompetence This has occurred with every overseas trip that the Jamaica senior team, junior team, female team [have taken]. It’s the same outcome. You are going to tell me that we did not know that the players required the PCR test that is nostril only? If we did not know, then we should know,” Stewart told The Gleaner. “We can’t use that as an excuse.”

In a report from the Japan Times, Japan Football Association (JFA) President Kozo Tashima, in a press conference yesterday afternoon, did not confirm whether or not the JFF followed the JFA’s guidelines with the England-based members of the group. While Tashima said that a charter flight was being considered to get the players in time for the game, they decide to call off the game to respect the Government’s regulations.

We decided it would not be appropriate to hold the Kirin Challenge Cup with one team only having 10 players,” Tashima said. “We will work to ensure this does not happen again.”

Additionally, Japan will instead play Japan’s Olympic team tomorrow.

This is latest faux pas in a string of incidents involving JFF missteps where travel arrangements are concerned.

COUNTRY AT RISK

Stewart says that the recent logistical problems have put the country at risk for poor performances at the upcoming Gold Cup tournament in July as well as the World Cup qualifiers in September and that the current administration needs to step aside for better results.

“Why can’t we get some competent leadership in the JFF that will eliminate these series of errors? It’s laughable really. They are going to mess it up the same way unless there are significant changes. Some honourable people should resign and others should be fired. This cannot continue,” Stewart said. “It can be better managed, it should be better managed and there are competent people to do so.”

Stewart has also raised concerns as to how the constant roadblocks have hampered the preparation of head coach Theodore Whitmore ahead of both major tournaments.

Meanwhile, sports administrator Don Anderson says that the JFF must now ensure that Whitmore has the players available for the two other games against Serbia (June 7) and the Japanese Olympic team (June 12).

“It is now up to the administration to do some serious introspection and see how we can have a full complement of players. No coach wants to be participating in matches as important as these with a team that isn’t exactly what they want,” Anderson said.

One JFF official has stated that they were not made aware of the stipulations by the Japanese Government for nostril only PCR tests.