Stephenson to leave KSAFA

Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) president, Ambassador A.B. Stewart Stephenson, is expected to announce that he is stepping down from the role in a press conference today.

Stephenson, who is a lawyer by profession, is said to be stepping down because of what he describes as "personal reasons". He first came to power in 1996, served for 11 years and was then succeeded by Rudolph Speid. He then returned to replace Speid in 2014 for two terms and continued after the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) extended the term limit for confederation presidents to four years.

Sources say that Speid will be nominated for a return to the role as he has publicly declared an interest, while the association's general secretary Wayne Shaw, told The Gleaner that he would be contesting the election. No other names are expected to be put forward to challenge them.

"We're surprised and we weren't expecting him to go," Shaw said yesterday. "He was in the first year of his four-year term and we did not want him to go. We tried to convince him to stay, but he made his choice."

Shaw says that he does not expect much to change in the association as the rest of the executive body is expected to remain.

"The team will still be there," he says. "We will be OK. The only change is that I will be running for the presidency."

HIS ACHIEVEMENTS

Some of Stephenson's achievements in the last year of his tenure include brokering a television rights deal with Television Jamaica to broadcast quarter-final, semi-final, and final matches for its competitions for five years; ridding the confederation of debts; and relocating to larger headquarters.

Also, during Stephenson's stint last year, a television rights contract was signed between Television Jamaica and Television Jamaica Sports Network and KSAFA to provide televised coverage of the Jackie Bell Knockout competition.

Stephenson had been previously tipped to challenge JFF President Captain Horace Burrell for the top job in local football, but he recently told The Gleaner that he would only consider the position if the money was right, as he has more important priorities.

Nominations for the post will be presented to the public next week.

KSAFA is a leading confederations in Jamaican football, with 39 clubs as members, across the Corporate Area.