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JFF’s 2021 resolution - Federation vows to avoid player conflicts this year

Published:Saturday | January 2, 2021 | 12:15 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
Reggae Boy Leon Bailey has been critical of the Jamaica Football Federation’s handling of the national programme, saying it could determine whether the Reggae Boyz qualify for the FIFA World Cup next year.
Reggae Boy Leon Bailey has been critical of the Jamaica Football Federation’s handling of the national programme, saying it could determine whether the Reggae Boyz qualify for the FIFA World Cup next year.
Jamaica’s Adrian Mariappa (second left) dribbles away from Aruba’s midfielder Erik Santos (left) and Terence Groothusen (obscured) during a Concacaf Nations League game at the National Stadium on Saturday, October 12, 2019.
Jamaica’s Adrian Mariappa (second left) dribbles away from Aruba’s midfielder Erik Santos (left) and Terence Groothusen (obscured) during a Concacaf Nations League game at the National Stadium on Saturday, October 12, 2019.
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General Secretary Dalton Wint says the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is ensuring that conflicts between the body and players will be avoided in sorting out all necessary payments and contracts details with them soon.

Players have publicly voiced disgruntlement with the JFF in the past regarding unpaid money and bonuses before matches, on occasion even threatening to strike.

But Wint told The Gleaner that the JFF will be holding dialogue with the players in the near future to ensure all is in place before they engage in any international assignments this year. “We have no choice but to have dialogue with the players because we do have the Gold Cup somewhere between June and July, and then we have the World Cup qualifiers, so we have some very important games to play,” he said.

MINIMISING ISSUES

“Issues are something that you don’t have control over, but what you can do is to try and minimise them. We will be very proactive and ensure that you provide from your side, what is required, what is necessary, and what is affordable, that you don’t have much issue going into 2021.

Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz have a busy schedule for the 2021 calendar year, with the Concacaf Gold Cup qualifiers this summer, and FIFA World Cup qualification thereafter.

Wint describes the handling of these matches as crucial.

“These tournaments will determine where we go in the future and where we end up, so football in 2021 is very crucial and critical to the JFF,” he said. “Our intention is to make sure that we do everything that is required to ensure that we get the optimum, and we are hoping that we will get the full support of the Government and corporate Jamaica to help to qualify for Qatar.”

robert.bailey@gleanerjm.com