Unity of purpose needed for 'Back to Africa' 2010 - Boxhill
Last week Thursday Crenston Boxhill, president of the Jamaica Football
Federation (JFF), in officially announcing the four-year contract of new
technical director Bora Milutinovich, addressed the nation on a number
of issues, including the role and function of the new TD, a progress report
on the youth teams, identifying a Jamaican football philosophy, a vision
for the 2010 Back to Africa World Cup campaign, among others. Below is
the full text of Boxhill's speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen:
The Jamaica Football Federation has signed a four-year contract with Mr
Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic to be the technical director for the national
football programme for the country. Since his appointment, the technical
director has visited games at the national and local levels of the sport,
including premier league, super league and the school level. He has also
performed international duties.
New technical director of Jamaica's football
Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovich (left), who will have primary responsibility
for the preparation of the national senior team for World Cup 2010,
poses with former national coach, Carl Brown, at the Pegasus Hotel
recently. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
I am sure the technical director will elaborate on his activities
and observations when he speaks.
The federation is extremely pleased with this appointment and considers
it of fundamental and strategic importance to the development of the game
in Jamaica.
We are, first of all, pleased because of the incomparable international
experience, knowledge, technical expertise and accomplishments that he
brings to this new assignment.
His accomplishments have been well exposed through the media in particular,
we note the advantage of his knowledge of the CONCACAF region, its players,
its coaches, and the strengths and weaknesses of the teams. He is also
known to be a high disciplinarian, demanding and generating maximum output
from those whom he works with. He has a warm, engaging personality that
can generate necessary response and respect.
We are, secondly, very pleased with the appointment because of important
components to the agreement. In particular, we are happy that the technical
director has agreed to work very closely in the initial two years with
our local coaches. We wish again to note that his willingness to do this
was highly influential in the federation's decision to hire coach Milutinovic.
Hence, for the initial period, there will be no additional cost to the
federation for support staff for the technical director.
Jamaican football lovers will immediately appreciate the value of this
component to the long-term development of the game in Jamaica.
It means that critical technical skills and experience will be passed
on to our local technical staff in a more structured way than probably
ever before.
It is more than appropriate, I think, to use this occasion to personally,
as well as on behalf of the federation, to thank Jamaica's local coaches
at all levels for the years and years of service to the development of
the sport in Jamaica.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is not the easiest of job in Jamaica. The limited
resources available to match the incredible natural talent in need of
development has meant that many times our local coaches perform their
duties without the requisite returns. The uneven and inadequate state
of our infrastructure makes the job even more challenging. Yet our coaches
have preserved and have played a major role in developing the talent that
the technical director will have at his disposal to carry to a new and
higher level.
In this context I hope you will allow me to pay special tribute to our
most recent interim coach, Mr Carl Brown. Carl, at a time when the programme
needed experienced direction, responded to the request of the federation
and guided the senior team over the last three months.
It certainly was not the first, and I have the strange and pleasant feeling
it would not have been the last time when Carl would have given of his
experience in the interest of the national football programme. At all
times, he has given of his best.
I would also like to recognise former national coach Wendell Downswell,
who guided the senior team again during a difficult programme, that is,
immediately following Jamaica's elimination from the 2006 World Cup Campaign.
In that period, Jamaica won the 2005 Digicel Caribbean Cup and became
the only Caribbean national to qualify for the 2007 Pan-Am Games. Again
coach Downswell is one who will have a role to play in our football development
in the future.
In fact, ladies and gentlemen, through the efforts of our local coaching
cadre, at all levels, Jamaica have qualified for the final stages of all
youth tournaments. and I wish to stress of both genders, for the very
first time.
Jamaica have qualified for the final stages of World Cup qualification
for the Under-20s; the Under-17s; the Under-20s women's team and the senior
women's teams.
For the very first time, the country will be represented at the Pan-Am
Games by both the men's and women's teams.
I would go as far as to say that true to our philosophy the last three
years have seen a great consistent encouragement to our young players.
I want to use this opportunity to encourage all the local coaches who
will be exposed to the guidance of technical director Bora to take the
fullest advantage of the relationship.
I expect you to express your views on the Jamaican experience, at the
same time that you learn from what is amongst the best of international
and regional expertise.
One of the very early meetings to be held by coach Bora will be with as
many of our local coaches as possible. Tomorrow afternoon the coach, through
a process to be decided by himself and the federation, will select his
local support staff.
Technical director Bora will have primary responsibility for the preparation
of the national senior team for Jamaica's preparation for qualification
for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
In addition, and I stress, he will give overall guidance to the varying
units of the national programme, some of which are in the final preparation
stages of World Cup qualification.
On its part, the federation is making all efforts to ensure that our youth
teams, the Under-17 and Under-20 Teams, and the senior women's are given
the necessary support to maximise their possibilities for World Cup and
tournament contention.
For the Under-20 and Under-17 squads we are presently comprising support
groups. These group will be responsible for:
1 Seeking necessary sponsorship for the squads.
2 Ensuring the necessary nutritional and mental support programmes.
3 Ensuring especially for our Under-17s the necessary focus on academics.
4 For the Under-17s seeking sponsorship for the hosting of the final CONCACAF
round to be held in Jamaica in April 2007.
5 Finally, securing international games, a critical ingredient identified
for the country to step up. For example we expect to announce very shortly
two international games for our Under-17s to be played in Jamaica and
against a highly competitive team.
Hence, contrary to views expressed, this administration remains solidly
committed to the development of our youth programmes because we believe
it is the only sustainable way to ensure consistency at the senior level.
As part of, and emerging from his overall direction to the varying units,
technical director Bora will, through discussions with the technical committee
of the JFF, help to develop what we are calling a philosophy for Jamaica's
football.
We expect as this philosophy emerges that it will be the guiding principle
for the sport at all levels and will, importantly, find its way centrally
into the curriculum of the emerging national academy.
In mid January 2007 we will unveil for public scrutiny and discussion
the components of the back to Africa campaign that will look at the details
of the technical programme; the support back up administration; marketing
and merchandising; the relations with the sponsors, fans, including the
Diaspora, the entire package.
Ladies and gentlemen, the preparation for the World Cup in South Africa
brings its own excitement and expectation and we all anticipate both the
first friendly match on that route as well as the last qualifying match.
However, I would want to admit that I am also excited about the development
of that philosophy for Jamaica's football, as well as the work that the
technical director will be doing with our local coaches. We expect that
this will go a far way in creating a unity of purpose and direction long,
long over due.
What can I say about the sponsors and support from both public and private
sectors. It has been very, very encouraging and I wish to put on record
the federation's sincerest appreciation to all the companies, most represented
here who have given the push that we have announced today.
I wish to express a special appreciation to the prime minister, the Hon
Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Transport, who have all played
very critical roles in committing public sector support.
So what we have emerging is a unity of purpose and support from both sectors.
I equally wish to thank the number of corporate companies who have shown
confidence in our players, and recognition of the value of the sport to
the national psyche, I hope you all realise that through your sponsorship
you have all re-affirmed your faith and commitment to our country.
I call on the players to rise to the occasion and show that this confidence
is well placed.
Ladies and gentlemen, the programme remains in need of further support.
We are particularly making an appeal for nutritional support and for the
adopt-a-player scheme. The latter is going to be critical in us meeting
our objective of having a local squad under the continuous direction of
coach Bora.
So ladies and gentlemen, we face exciting, challenging times. I know you
share our optimism, our faith. I extend, like you, a real Jamaican welcome
to coach Bora. looking at some of the gesticulations he has been doing,
he is already at home.
May I finally use the opportunity to wish you all a peaceful and enjoyable
holiday season.
, December 23, 2006.
Russian ladies dream about happy marriage.
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