March 14, 2007

General Secretary’s Address to the launch of the

JFF/Jamaica National Bicentenary Committee Exhibition Games

The Jamaica Football Federation has taken special pleasure in being a part of the Jamaica National Bicentenary Planning Committee

In fact other than proudly representing the JFF, as an individual it’s been an honour.   I like many of you still get literal goose bumps when we see or imagine the manner in which our ancestors were taken through the middle passage to the former British Caribbean, including Jamaica.

As the promotional brochure of the national committee states, the abolition of the Trans-Atlantic trade not only saved further millions from the middle passage and slavery but also started the process of Jamaicanization.

It was only natural that football would take center stage in the efforts of the national committee to create a level of awareness, interest and support for its activities.

Football continues to be an excellent avenue around which national goals can be achieved especially at the community level. Almost as a gift to the committee or an indication of exactly the message that the committee is communicating, the next world cup is to be held in South Africa. Perfect isn’t it?

Our ancestors were torn from Africa beginning in the 15^th century; through the most adverse of circumstances.  Yet we not only survived but created our own identity and with it tremendous achievements for which we can be duly proud.

A critical component of this brand has been the popular name Reggae Boyz. For those of you who may not know, the name Reggae Boyz was given to the Jamaican team by the Zambians when the team visited that country in 1995 to play an international friendly game.

The Reggae Boyz brand is now a household name throughout the football world, earning a reputation for their attractive play, their dancing after a goal as well as their eye-catching uniforms.

So it is with this very appropriate and fitting background that as general secretary i commit the jff to assist the national bicentenary committee in fulfilling its objectives. 

It is in this regard that we are organizing a series of local confederation games beginning on Sunday, March 18, 2007. We are also working towards a series of regional and international encounters.

We have full confidence that through football as well as the other sporting and cultural events being organised our pride in our achievements in the face of major historic adversities will be that more enhanced.

Ladies and gentlemen, the end result will be greater self-esteem, greater confidence and by extension greater achievements.

We certainly expect that one of those achievements will be the Reggae Boyz in South Africa in 2010.

May I wish all the success for the efforts of the committee and pledge our support.