Now that Captain Burrell has spoken...

Saturday, February 04, 2012

WE applaud Captain Horace Burrell for finally breaking his silence on the prickly issue of his FIFA suspension.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president, under a lingering cloud regarding his role in the now infamous cash-for-votes scandal that rocked Caribbean football, missed an opportunity to clear the air on his first public assignment after serving his three-month FIFA-imposed ban.

This newspaper felt it was not sound judgement on the part of Captain Burrell to take the route of silence initially, and we said so.

We are not saying that he specifically took our advice, but we are certainly happy that he took advantage of his second bite of the cherry at a sponsorship announcement on Tuesday.

We are not aware that any other person sanctioned by FIFA in the murky vote-buying saga has gone public on this matter. Assuming Captain Burrell is the only one to do so, it would indeed be a feather in his cap.

In speaking up, he has not only shed light on a dark subject, but has set the bar for responsible, decisive and conciliatory governance — worthy of emulation in the wider sphere of leadership in Jamaica.

By declaring his innocence and offering an explanation on the matter, we believe he went a far way in appeasing the people of Jamaica and his football constituents at home and the wider Caribbean.

This is not to suggest that the cashfor-votes matter is closed as a public point of discussion, but we believe the football fraternity is now much better positioned to focus on the Brazil 2014 World Cup campaign, which starts for the Reggae Boyz on June 8.

Though it would be vain and narrow-minded to support any school of thought that projects Captain Burrell as the only man capable of effective and visionary leadership of the Federation at this time, we have definitely seen a spark in the football programme with his return some two weeks ago.

This was underlined in no small measure by the announcements of new sponsorship deals for the national programme, three friendly games for the flagship Reggae Boyz this month alone, and Captain Burrell’s appointment to FIFA's highprofile Olympic Organisation Committee for Football Tournaments.

It seems he continues to enjoy support and confidence from near and far and in high and low places.

The Brazil 2014 World Cup campaign, we are told, will require a hefty US$7.5 million (approximately J$645 million) to finance it. The sheer enormity of the task of raising these funds in uncertain economic times will need creative leadership and collective planning and execution.

We believe that it will require someone of Captain Burrell’s experience and savvy to lead this venture.

It’s been 14 years since the people of Jamaica tasted and relished the joy and pride that swept the nation when the nation qualified to the senior FIFA World Cup for the first time back in 1998.

We thirst for yet another dose of that euphoria, national pride and international recognition.

Today, with the general bleak economic outlook, crippling unemployment levels and few opportunities for upward mobility of our young people, Jamaica needs every inspiring moment it can get.

Another World Cup qualification would certainly lift spirits, mend fences between politically polarised and violence-torn communities and open doors for young players with big dreams.

It’s time for us to cast aside those things that are perceived to be petty and injurious to our football and instead set sail for Brazil.

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Now that Captain Burrell has spoken...