JFF spent nearly US$3 million on Girlz’s preparation – Ricketts
Published:Thursday | August 3, 2023 | 12:10 AM
FOLLOWING THEIR historic 0-0 draw against Brazil in their final Group F FIFA Women’s World Cup match at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium yesterday, Reggae Girlz goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer said that although members of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) administration did not believe in them, they never lost faith in each other.
However, JFF president Michael Ricketts insists that they did all they could to help them prepare despite their financial constraints while pointing that they spent nearly US $3 million to help the Girlz prepare for the tournament.
Nevertheless, Spencer, who has been outstanding in goal for the Reggae Girlz and is yet to concede a goal at the tournament, said the disappointments just served as inspiration.
“I am lost for words. I feel so emotional. We are a team that went through so much off the pitch. No one believed in us.
“The ones above us never believed in us, but we always believed in ourselves, and as you saw from the performance today (yesterday), we grinded out the result. We knew we could do it.
“The ones above us, they do not believe in us. They always put us through things we do not want to go through, and that just gives us more fire in our bellies to go out and do well,” Spencer said in her post-match interview.
NO CROWD FUNDING
However, Ricketts, in an interview on Hitz FM, said they did all they could to help the Girlz with their preparation, saying that there was no help from any crowd funding efforts, contrary to popular belief.
He instead credited sports minister Olivia Grange, Cedella Marley, and the Marley Foundation for their support.
He also insists that the relationship between the JFF and the Girlz is not as bad as it appears to be.
“We would have spent close to US$3 million, and I want to use this opportunity to say to Jamaica that we did not have a Gofundme at this time. None.
“I want to say to Cedella Marley and Marley Foundation, kudos. They have been there for us every time at the drop of a hat. I have never called Cedella Marley and her response is negative.
“We would not have been able to pay players what they are worth. But the JFF ought now to set a platform so these players are marketable,” he said.
After making it to the round of 16, the Reggae Girlz and the federation will earn a big pay day and Ricketts said they intend to honour all arrangements with the Girlz.
“What the JFF need to do is fulfill all contractual arrangements. Most of the issues we have are related to funds and the programme needs that.
“We will never be able to pay them what they are worth, and we are just hoping that they will understand that we are in the corner and we are giving them a 100 per cent support,” he insisted.
Before the World Cup, the team sent a letter to the federation outlining their disappointment with preparation, and reports of those challenges have been heavily reported in the international media during the tournament, but Ricketts said the relationship is far better than it once was.
“It is a lot better than what it used to be. When that letter surfaced, I personally met with them, and after I met with them, Elaine (Walker-Brown) met with them, and then we seemed to have been on a level playing field,” he said.