Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Michael Ricketts said he is disappointed that long-time friend and JFF board member, Raymond Anderson, has chosen to challenge him for the presidency at this time.
Ricketts declared he has no issue with Anderson, who remains his personal friend, trying to fulfil his ambition.
However, he said he thought it strange that after so many years as part of the same administration, the former St Mary FA president has decided to challenge instead of supporting their efforts.
“I cannot be upset with a man who wants to fulfil his dream. My disappointment is that he has been a part of the football set-up for decades, and for him to just move away rather than give support, I am only disappointed with that, that he is getting into a contest. But let us see what will happen. There are no hard feelings. It is politics. We know our distance but we still are friends,” he declared.
With the increase in voting delegates to 56, the path to victory will not be as clear as his previous victory, when there were only the 13 parish associations votes and he defeated Stewart Stephenson 8-5.
Nevertheless, Ricketts is confident he will be returned as president of the federation.
“I am feeling pretty confident. I am getting most of the parish votes. I have some astute football and political minds in my corner, people who can galvanise support at the parish level and with interest groups. So I am pretty confident that I will return to office.”
Despite the harsh criticism his administration has faced because of numerous administrative mishandlings, Ricketts believes his work, some of which include unprecedented achievements such as back-to-back FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification, weighs heavily in his corner.
“I don’t want to boast but this administration would have achieved more than any other. We have just signed a contract with Adidas and I have been told that it is the best contract in the (local) sporting annals. I am not sure of that but I am sure it is the best contract ever in the history of football.
“I am absolutely certain I will be returned to office. I am very confident. And once things start to kick in, we will impact the social well-being of every single boy and girl in this country,” Ricketts said.
He added that former JFF presidents who have been very critical of his administration appear to have all the answers to the JFF’s problems now.
However, he said they left the federation when it was their time to lead.
“When you hear some past presidents commenting negatively, they were presidents who ran away from the football ... but now they have all the answers to the issues that the JFF has,” the federation boss said.
Meanwhile, as per the constitution, the losing candidate, from the elections that are due in December, will have to forfeit their place on the board as a result. Ricketts is seeking his second full term in office.