Major changes proposed for local football
Published:Thursday | June 11, 2020 | 12:00 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and parish football administrators are currently discussing a game-changing proposal that could transform the nation’s domestic football structure.
The proposed changes include increasing the number of teams in the top-flight Premier League from 12 to 14, having a second-tier competition with 16 teams, and reducing the number of active clubs in the island from over 400 to 198, with 168 of those competing at the parish level.
In all, 30 professional clubs would make up the top-two tiers of the proposed structure.
According to our information, the proposal also outlines that clubs competing in the Premier League will need a certified Concacaf B licensed coach, a certified goalkeeper coach, a certified physical trainer, a trained analytical person on its technical staff, as well as a JFF-issued coaching licensee. This is expected to be implemented for the 2021-2022 season.
In addition to establishing proper ownership structures, the proposal also requires that all teams in the top two divisions have U-13, U-15, U-17, and U-20 youth teams as well as an U-17 or U-20 female team, plus a mandatory senior women’s team.
JFF technical committee chairman Rudolph Speid insists that nothing has been agreed on, stating that they are awaiting consensus from the parish associations and a final decision from the federation.
“Nothing is agreed on. It’s all just a proposal at this point, so I can’t comment because it is under discussion with the parishes, and we haven’t received the consensus from them as yet. Of course it will go to the board, who will decide, so we will wait until the board decides, then we can discuss it,” Speid said.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Dwayne Dillon says they will meet with their affiliates this evening to discuss the proposal.
“We have a meeting with the clubs, so we will wait until after before I comment. I represent the clubs, so when I give a perspective I don’t want it to seem like my personal perspective. It will be the position of the clubs. But we sent out the document and we have the meeting tomorrow (this) evening, and after that, KSAFA will state its position,” Dillon stated.
The amateur competitions that will take place at the parish level will see no more than 12 teams participating in each competition, with the winner advancing to the Confederation playoff. The winner of this playoff will qualify for a playoff for promotion to the second-tier competition. However, the top-two teams promoted to the second-tier competition will only qualify if they meet Concacaf’s professional requirements as of July 15 in that year.
Teams playing at the parish amateur level will require a Concacaf D status while those playing in the second tier and looking to qualify for the top flight will require Concacaf C classification. The inaugural second-tier competition will guarantee that each parish has at least one team once they meet the Concacaf D status requirements before August 1, 2020.
Over the last two years, Concacaf has made recommendations to national associations on restructuring and upgrading the administrative capabilities, infrastructure, organisation, and sustainability of clubs, and the JFF has proposed a two-tiered national professional competition structure, to be introduced on a phased basis.