The long-awaited Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) board meeting to reschedule the date of the organisation’s presidential election will take place today and JFF president Michael Ricketts said they intend to make an announcement soon after.
“The board meeting will be Saturday and thereafter we probably will be in a position to say when that (election date) will be. We will make an announcement,” Ricketts said.
The election, which was originally set for January 14, was postponed two days before its scheduled date after Beach Soccer Jamaica was granted a 28-day injunction barring the holding of the election. President of Beach Soccer Jamaica (BSJ), Patricia Garel, had filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking an order to compel the JFF to allow BSJ to participate in the election of officers as the entity representing beach football in Jamaica.
The BSJ sought to have the injunction reinstated after 28 days but it was lifted by the court, making way for a new election date to be announced. The BSJ has appealed the lifting of the injunction and that matter is currently before the court, but Ricketts believes there is no good reason to have the injunction reinstated.
“I really don’t understand the importance or significance of that. I hope that (situation) would end because Beach Soccer is not an affiliate of the JFF.
“But that’s in the hands of the court. Nothing has changed, so I do not understand the appeal,” he continued. “You appeal when you have new and fresh evidence. But I am not an attorney. So let’s wait and see.”
However, he added that his support has doubled in recent times, as a result of the recent moves from Raymond Anderson’s team.
“It (support) has grown because people have become frustrated with some of the things the other side is doing.
“We are confident. I still want to keep my votes, my delegates and I want to make everybody comfortable and happy so people will vote where their hearts are,” he stated.
Ricketts’ challenger, Anderson, also insists his support has increased and said they will be ready when the date is called.
“I have no problem with what he (Ricketts) is saying, my support is growing also.
“We are out there talking to the delegates and they will decide,” he said. “Strategically, we want to get it right. Talk to the delegates, show them what we have to offer and the rest we will know when the election is called.
“But whatever happens I am just saying we are ready. If the court says that or FIFA says that, we have to work with it.
“What we are doing now is remobilise and motivate our delegates and our campaign team to face the election,” he said.
As a JFF vice president, Anderson can attend today’s meeting and he is hoping everything is done in accordance with the constitution.
“I will be at the board meeting. We will be there to have some discussions and we are just hoping that whatever we do at the board meeting is constitutionally correct.
“But I am more than confident. We are going to win the election on the day because we are doing things right, and if we get the constitutional things correct, and you have the rules and regulations correct, all things will fall into place,” he commented.