PFJL accepts expansion but …
Published:Sunday | August 21, 2022 | 12:09 AMLivingston Scott - Sunday Gleaner Writer
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL Jamaica Limited (PFJL) chairman, Christopher Williams, says that although he is against expanding from 12 to 14 clubs, the organisation has accepted the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) decision to add two more teams to the Jamaica Premier League (JPL).
He said the PFJL is just getting a handle on managing the operations of the league and providing adequate financial and administrative support, and that the league would not be ready for an expansion for the next five years.
He contends that the existing professional football ecosystem is still extremely weak, pointing out that administrative competence is still wanting and that financial support to the clubs will be diluted.
“My experience over the last two years in the PFJL is that the remaining ecosystem, preparation infrastructure, physical, nutrition and mental development for the existing 12 clubs are weak.
“The administrative competence, the ability to have a full professional team that deals with all aspects of the club, ensuring that it is a well-oiled machine.
“The clubs also have to have $30 to $50 million in their bank accounts before they can talk about executing a professional team, operate their clubs seamlessly and provide the necessary support for all the personnel,” he said.
He argued that they are not yet in a position to expand, as creating those circumstances for each club is still far away.
Level of professionalism
“We are probably five years away from expansion. We are nowhere near the level of professionalism that is considered minimum to run a professional club and a professional league,” said Williams.
Although he declared that he has no issues with tier-two clubs, he insisted the league hasn’t reached full stability yet.
“All I am saying is let us stabilise the patient first before we talk about getting the patient on a plane.
“The patient is not stable, but we are on that path. We are happy and motivated by what we have achieved thus far. But let us achieve it first and then talk about expansion,” he commented.
Nevertheless, the PFJL will work with the JFF’s decision to add the two teams, Faulkland and Chapleton Maroons, to the JPL.
He said the PFJL will provide all the support it can for all the clubs, although having two more teams at this stage will make that more difficult.
“I was reading an article and one of the teams was already complaining they do not have any sponsorship.
“So we are digging the hole even deeper because we are putting a team in the professional league that is not in a position to satisfy the needs at a tier-two level.
“We talked with the JFF. We understand each other and we have agreed to work together.
“I gave my opinion and they made their decision. We just have to continue to work and move forward,” he said.
“We will try and get the 14 clubs administratively stronger and infrastructure better. It is going to reduce what we provided the current 12 clubs.
“But we will support and do what we must to ensure the league is a success. It was a bad decision but we will work with it.”