‘Some local venues have to improve standards’
PFJL’s acting general manager: You need to bring it up to a particular level
Published:Saturday | April 23, 2022 | 12:07 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Newly appointed acting general manager of Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL), Mitchell Watson, says the return of local premier league games to certain club venues will be dependent on their ability to meet the standards required by both the Jamaica Football Federation and the Government.
Watson has taken over the position following the departure of Arlene Martin who stepped down from her role recently. Martin was appointed the first general manager of PFJL, the body responsible for the marketing of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) which was formed two years ago.
Watson says that while they are now in a more favourable position regarding the expansion of their venue selections for the league, certain club venues still have not got the green light to return. The Edward Seaga Sports Complex, home to Tivoli Gardens Football Club, is a venue that Watson says they have not got approval, which is a signal that other venues have to improve their standards if they want local football to return.
“What it really is saying to the clubs and the parish committees is that you need to bring your venues up to a particular standard. You need to bring it up to a particular level. One of the things we are trying to do is not make it a free for all. We are trying to secure revenue,” Watson told The Gleaner.
“So part of it is also to ensure that the venues that we use are venues that we can collect. That is an important factor in the venues that are being used. It’s not the PFJL that makes the decision.”
PLANS
Watson says that, with the conclusion of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships and the 2022 Carifta Games, there are plans to return to the Stadium East for matches. The JPL will be in Clarendon this weekend at the Wembley Centre of Excellence and Watson said they are moving towards having games at the Catherine Hall Sports Complex in Montego Bay next month.
The expansion of the local venues is one of Watson’s priorities for the remainder of this season and beyond, as he hopes to build on the efforts of his predecessor and build their platform for the league to have the international reach that they are targeting.
“We are building out the framework to have games at not all the stadiums but at some of the local venues, at some of the clubs. Beyond that, we are just working on building spectator support, building more interest around the game. We want to see if we can get some additional sponsors. We are looking at building the international platform in terms of getting more people, not just from the diaspora, involved,” Watson said.
“So I am excited about the opportunity as it presents itself now. And I am more excited at the fact that the teams themselves are buying into the vision.”