Stewart slams JFF over poor youth-development record
Published:Thursday | September 28, 2023 | 12:10 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
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LONG-TIME CRITIC of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Carvel Stewart, says the sport’s governing body’s failure to take youth development seriously is an indictment on the current administration and is the main reason he is calling for a...
LONG-TIME CRITIC of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Carvel Stewart, says the sport’s governing body’s failure to take youth development seriously is an indictment on the current administration and is the main reason he is calling for a change in leadership.
JFF elections are due in December and Vice-president Raymond Anderson will challenge Michael Ricketts for the presidency. The Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), with Stewart as vice-president, has already thrown its support behind him.
Stewart, also chairman of the Harbour View Football Club, said youth development has suffered tremendously under this administration and he is hoping that new leadership will make it a priority.
“I believe the football is in a terrible state at this time. No youth development has taken place. The JFF has failed terribly in every area of our youth development,” Stewart commented.
“So, I am hoping that there will be a change in the leadership of the administration that will start their new role by seeing the need for the youth development programme,” he said.
He pointed out that problems are not just with the local development programme, but also with failures at the international level.
“Every (youth national) team that has represented Jamaica has been poorly supported, poorly prepared, and we have had the results we have had because of this.
“We do not have the youth teams representing because we might fail to register them, fail to get visas for them, and so they can’t leave Jamaica.
“So, when they recognise all the needs that teams require, our youth teams can go off to represent us.”
He added that the women have had it worse, with little or nothing happening in terms of youth development.
“We are only fortunate to have someone like (senior women’s coach) Lorne (Donaldson), but we are not doing anything here to develop our young girls.
“So, our development doesn’t exist. It has just not been fostered in the right way. So, I am hoping we have a change in administration and end up with one which is going to make youth development a primary objective.”