March 14, 2007The Jamaica National Bicentennial Committee In collaboration with The Jamaica Football Federation Presents· CONFEDERATION FOOTBALL ALL STAR EXHIBITION TOURNAMENT
BACKGROUNDPrior to the staging of World Cup 2006 in Germany, the Jamaica National Bicentenary Committee met with members of the Diplomatic community at the residence of the Colombian Ambassador Dr. Kent Francis-James to discuss among other things, our sporting vision for the year 2007. There, a proposed idea that a year-long football tournament be featured as part of the bicentenary celebrations was floated and accepted in principle by the Diplomatic community. In this regard, with the blessing of the Diplomatic community, the JNBC Sports Committee, in collaboration with the Jamaica football federation in celebration of the 200th Year of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Trade in enslaved Africans, envisions a football fiesta comprised of four [4] football tournaments spread across the year. We propose to launch the year’s celebration beginning with a local based ALL STAR CONFEDERATION EXHIBITION FOOTBALL tournament [Sun 14 March & Wed 18 March]. This tournament will feature competing squads from the confederations of Eastern, Western, South Central and KSAFA, which in our view will showcase the island’s football talent [outside of the NPL/national player pool], affording our new Technical director Bora Milutinovic an opportunity to observe first hand, the talent available locally. The second tournament scheduled for MAY, will engage the four Caribbean nations that have experienced the World Cup stage [Cuba, Haiti, T&T and Jamaica]. In addition, it is also proposed that the USA be invited to participate. The third tournament scheduled for AUGUST should see the Reggae Boyz facing teams from Africa. These could include Nigeria, Togo, Ivory Coast and Ghana. There is a possibility that 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa could participate. The fourth and final tournament scheduled at the year’s end would see our Reggae Boyz lining up against world powers such as Brazil, England, Mexico and Colombia. The committee’s ongoing discussions with the diplomatic community, the football federation and corporate sponsors have been quite favorable, and we welcome additional sponsors to join us in what promises to be an exciting and inspiring year for football in Jamaica. Don Davis, Institute of Caribbean Cultural Studies Co-Chairman, JNBC Sports Committee January 2007
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