Fuelling the fire
Marley resignation adds spark to heated JFF presidential challenge
Published:Saturday | January 6, 2024 | 12:10 AMPaul-Andre Walker/Sports Editor
THE RESIGNATION of Cedella Marley as the Reggae Girlz’s global ambassador is fuelling the charge of opposition to the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) incumbent administration ahead of elections set for January 14.
A shock press release on Thursday evening announced Marley’s wish to immediately end a near-decade-long relationship with the JFF, supposedly, over the widening rift between the JFF and the Reggae Girlz squad.
Marley, in her release, said:
“I have decided that I can no longer associate myself or my family’s name with any organisation that would oppress and manipulate the very ones they have a responsibility to support and uplift.”
Those strong words have been the fuel behind another release on the matter, this time from the Raymond Anderson-led Real Solid Action (RSA) team, which seeks to unseat president of the JFF, Michael Ricketts.
“The news of Cedella Marley’s departure is not just sad; it speaks clearly to the inability of the current leadership to be trusted,” read the release from the RSA.
The timing of Marley’s resignation seems fortuitous for Anderson but the JFF has tried to ensure the parting of ways is amicable.
Saying he was “saddened” by Marley’s decision, Ricketts pointed out in a release from the JFF that the timing of the departure was unfortunate “… we are of the view that we had made significant progress in the discussion, and are just awaiting the World Cup players to come back to us and advise of their availability”.
Ricketts’ comment comes in the wake of a rift that began ahead of the inaugural Women’s Gold Cup qualifiers in October, where the Reggae Girlz, who played a part in the historic second World Cup qualification run and another never-before-achieved feat, qualifying for the round of 16, en bloc, made themselves unavailable.
A makeshift Reggae Girlz squad, led by interim head coach, Xavier Gilbert, performed admirably in those qualifiers, losing 1-2 to Panama, drawing 2-2 and 1-1 with Guatemala, and again 1-1 with Panama but ultimately failed to make the Concacaf showpiece.
While the JFF have consistently said they have worked to solve the issues penned to the JFF by the squad ahead of those qualifiers, Marley’s resignation suggests otherwise.
“The Reggae Girlz’s patriotism, professionalism, and performance has won them fans and favour all over the world. Yet, the organisation that has gained the most (in wealth and public standing) from this continues to malign, mistreat, and vilify them at every opportunity by fostering a blatantly false narrative in the media with no regard for the potential impact on the players or the programme itself,” Marley’s missive read.
The RSA has been no less scathing.
SHADOW OF MISTRUST
“This resignation casts a long shadow of mistrust over the current JFF administration. It is now clear that there has been a deliberate effort to discredit our two-time World Cup-qualifying Reggae Girlz. This squad, a beacon of hope and pride for our nation, has been let down. In just three months, the JFF has managed to undo what took Cedella Marley and everyone involved a decade to build,” read the release from the RSA, Anderson, himself, condemning the JFF’s actions.
“I utterly condemn the manner in which the Reggae Girlz and Ambassador Marley have been treated. The lack of communication, unfulfilled promises, and disregard shown are inexcusable,” he said, going on to call the firing of previous head coach Lorne Donaldson, “not only a betrayal of trust but a tragic misstep”.
Continuing along the lines of wishing to mend fences, Ricketts said the JFF wanted to assure Marley that her work was not undone.
“We want to assure her that the gains that have been made will be concretised as we move into the future,” said Ricketts.
While the Ricketts-led administration seemed to be doing damage control, the RSA has gone on the attack, with Anderson, a vice-president of the current administration, distancing himself from its actions.
“I am sorry, Jamaica, that I, along with many others, have been left in the dark, excluded from decision-making processes that have led to this moment. The current administration has misrepresented facts, failed you, Cedella, and all those who believe in the power of our nation’s football,” said Anderson.
The JFF presidential hopeful also went on to claim Marley would be welcomed back were he to win an election in another eight days.
“When I become president of the JFF, all doors will reopen to Cedella Marley. We will rebuild, reinvigorate, and restore the faith and pride in our football.”