JAMAICA qualified for FIFA World Cup 1998 in France. They did so largely because the Jamaican Federation secured the services of a Brazilian Coach, Rene Simoes. The salaries for Simoes and his team, were met by the Government of Jamaica, Red Stripe Beer, Air Jamaica, and several other Jamaican corporations.
Jamaica did not repeat their qualification at Japan-Korea 2002 or Germany 2006. In 2006, Jamaica failed to qualify for the Digicel Caribbean Cup Finals, and therefore will not be at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2007.
Bermuda is not a football “power” — not even in the regional game. Bermuda also failed to qualify for the Digicel Cup Finals, falling at the final hurdle to eventual Champions — Haiti.
Trinidad and Tobago qualified for FIFA 2006 in Germany. They did so with a total local corporate sponsorship of less than US $1,000,000, and with no input from the Government.
Upon qualifying, the local federation did attract some local corporate sponsorship, again less than US$1M, from companies wishing more it seems to promote themselves, not seeking to help football.
TT has since qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the Under-17 team is still in the race for the FIFA Under-17 Championships later this year. So why am I making these comparisons?
Because, in spite of their “failure” to qualify for Germany 2006 or Gold Cup 2007, the Jamaican Government and the Jamaican corporate sector have undertaken to fund the continuing development of Jamaican football, including the salaries of new coach Bora Multinovic. The support package includes the costs of several major international friendlies and the hosting of the CONCACAF Under-17 Finals in April.
And in spite of the lack of international football impact, the Government of Bermuda has funded the Bermuda Football Federation up to US$15,000,000.
They have done this in order to support the development of football in Bermuda. And because, the “benefactor” of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation has announced that he can no longer carry the financial burden of Trinidad and Tobago’s football.
As I recall, there is only one active sponsor of the TTFF at this time, and that is TSTT. Those who “bought-in” after Bahrain have all gotten their value and left, and this includes the Government of TT.
While we all talk about South Africa 2010 and Youth Development, not one cent has been put into any campaign by anyone except Jack Warner.
Since returning from Germany 2006, the TT Football Federation has hosted a 28 Nation Under-16 Tournament (August 2006, TT finishing third and qualifying for CONCACAF Under-17), a four-nation Under-20 Qualifying tournament, a home and away Under-20 play- off with Jamaica (we lost, Jamaica is now in the CONCACAF U-20s), the Digicel Cup (Digicel sponsored for CFU) and several friendlies for our Seniors, Under-20s and U-17s and our Womens’ Teams.
With the exception of the Digicel Cup, not one of these events received one cent of sponsorship support from government or the corporate sector.
Indeed, even the visit of the Mexico Under-17 team (the current World Under-17 Champions) this week — being played on Fatima Ground today and Tuesday — is supported by Mr Warner alone. There is obviously no value to either the Government or the local corporate sector in supporting the national football teams at this stage.
Clearly we must qualify for South Africa in November 2009 to be considered. What is it that the Governments and businesses of Jamaica and Bermuda see in football that we cannot see?
Here we are, riding a wave of triumph and success, and cannot get a cent for support, but Jamaica and Bermuda, swallowing hard and hoping to rebuild, can be fully funded by their governments and business interests? So Jack Warner has announced that he will no longer be the sponsor, and has effectively given notice to all of the Federation’s Coaching Staff.
I doubt that anyone will stay on as a volunteer, so I expect a total collapse in the country’s international programme, if not all football.
Part of the reason that there is no funding for local football is because Jack Warner is deeply involved in the Opposition Party, and the Government “punishes” football to some extent because of this.
Part of the reason is that some people do not like Jack, and have said to me that they will become involved if Jack was not there. Well, here is your chance! I hope Jack calls their bluff and also steps down as Special Advisor to the Federation, to “clear the way” for government and corporate support. I certainly do not expect any rush to fill the void being left by Jack, at least not until November 2009, if we survive that long.