JFF takes futsal association into the fold

JAMAICA FUTSAL and Scrimmage Association (JFSA) became the newest member of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) following an Extraordinary Congress at the JFF office on Saturday.

However, the novel organisation will remain a non-voting affiliate until the federation’s constitution is amended.

According to a JFF release, in accordance with Article 13 of the constitution, the JFF admitted the new member, the Jamaica Futsal and Scrimmage Association, which will facilitate its objective to formalise and improve the support for futsal, which has its own World Cup competition.

“JFSA has been admitted as a non-voting member of the JFF, as the constitution allocates votes to specifically named members only, and so new members can only be admitted as non-voting until the constitution is amended by Congress,” it read.

Congress also approved the federation’s 2023 audited financial statements, which shows a surplus of $42.5 million.

The release explained that in all, the JFF had a surplus of $69 million but that after providing for an impairment loss provision on long-standing receivables, which amounted to $26.5 million, the figure was reduced to $42.5 million.

However, it noted that this has resulted in the JFF’s deficit being reduced from $231.4 million to $189.0 million.

“Which suggests that although we have made some improvement, JFF still has a significant deficit to eliminate, and this will require continued fiscal prudence.

“However, the JFF is committed to continuing this path as we understand that a strong financial position for the JFF is essential for football development in Jamaica,” it stated.

JFF president Michael Ricketts added that the organisation remained committed to strong financial governance.

COMMITMENT

“As was a part of my strategic plan, and commitment to the public, I am happy to report that for 2023, the JFF reported a surplus of over $42 million, and we were able to put a dent in reducing the deficit.

“This focus on financial governance is something that I am very committed to, and this has enabled us to clear up the past debts owed to the senior men’s team that will be travelling to the World Cup Qualifiers and COPA (America).

“We recognise that we still have a far way to go, and we are committed to continuing the journey,” he commented.

The release noted also that the JFF’s audited financial statements had been published on its website – www.jff.football.com.

Congress also approved the committees required to be approved and took the decision to hold all parish elections by August 31.

The committees are the audit and compliance, disciplinary and ethics, and the appeal committees, with members appointed for a four-year term.

The appeal committee members are Wayne Mitchell, Seymour Martin, John Jacobs, Stuart Simpson, and Shena Stubbs.

The audit and compliance committee comprises Dwight Sommers, Durval Williams, Kevin Ralston, Deanall Barnes, and Dianne A. Edwards.

The disciplinary and ethics committee members are David Watt, Tamika Spencer Anderson, Nophia Morgan, George Davis, Oral Trowers, Gilroy English Jr, Jovan Bowes, and Rex Swearing.