FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — The financially challenged Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is set to take a loss from the friendly match against Costa Rica at the National Stadium on Sunday.

Though the precise numbers are still to be collated, general secretary Horace Reid said “the loss is estimated to be $9 million”.

Prior to kick-off, the JFF announced it was costing $17 million to stage the match, which the Reggae Boyz won 1-0 courtesy of a 66th-minute strike from San Jose Earthquake striker, Ryan Johnson.

The JFF had pleaded for fan support to offset the high costs associated with staging the game, but far less than half the seats at the 30,000-capacity venue were taken.

“Indeed, it’s very expensive and a severe risk staging games at home; however, we cannot build a credible product by keeping the team away from home. Home advantage in the World Cup qualifying games is super important. We need the fans to support the gates and thus provide oxygen for the programme to grow and develop,” Reid told the Observer here where he was attending the friendly game against Peru at Lockhart Stadium yesterday.

The JFF also sustained a $4.8-million loss in its recent home game against Canada in January, which Jamaica won 1-0. The JFF needed to collect at least $12 million at the gates to avoid a loss, but only managed $7.2 million from ticket sales in all categories.

Usually, when the JFF hosts teams in Jamaica, it underwrites the costs of airfare for its overseas-based players, referees and the visiting contingent, plus hotel accommodation for all the above. Also, it covers ground transportation, meals, match fees, stadium rental and security as the major expenses.

Reid, while grateful for the support from their corporate partners, lamented a general lack of monetary solidarity by other private companies and even the Government, even during World Cup-qualifying campaigns.

“A credible programme cannot be prosecuted without serious financial support. The levels of support from Government and corp orate Jamaica for the 1998 campaign remains unprecedented,” said Reid.

Reid said what Jamaica spent on executing a World Cup campaign pales in comparison to the expenditures of some of its CONCACAF colleagues.

“We do not spend even 33 per cent of what the USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada, Honduras and even Trinidad spend in prosecuting their respective World Cup campaigns. However, expectations of the Jamaican populace and the media are not so tempered,” Reid outlined.

“This is not necessarily all negative as we’re pushed to make less resources work as much as possible,” he added.

Efforts by the JFF to fill ‘The Office’ as often as it would like is seriously hampered by a lack of funds to attract high-profile opponents that would appeal to a fastidious football fan-base.

“Unless we’re able to attract very strong opponents with great international appeal, it’s much harder to sell a game. Economically, it’s not viable to bring some of these preferred opponents to Jamaica. Match fees and overheads for the visitors can run you in excess of US$500,000.

“But whether we’are playing big or small opponents, the Jamaican people must support the efforts if they want to see their team in the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

“Panama vs Costa Rica in Panama City last Friday evening had a gate attendance of 18,000. We played Costa Rica on a Sunday evening and you saw the attendance. We have a big appetite and talk a good talk, but when it’s time to support, we produce excuses,” mourned Reid.

While European, South American and top CONCACAF teams can layout an itinerary for games they will play over a protracted period, Jamaica has to negotiate one game at a time because of their lack of bargaining capital.

Meanwhile, the Reggae Boyz earned US$40,000 (about J$3.5 million) in match fees from the Peru game which Reid called “a normal fee”. It covered per diems and incentives for players and staff and air tickets for some of the overseas-based players.

“Fees fluctuate based on rankings, opponents, promoters’ capability to deliver and results generally have a positive impact on this,” Reid explained.

In most cases, negotiated fees between two federations and/or promoters are kept confidential as one is often “contractually bound from disclosure as it compromises negotiations with other opponents”.

But even as the JFF is being constricted by a debt in the region of $100 million, Reid is confident brighter days lie ahead. “We’re already at bare bones right now, but I’m... confident the worst has passed and there are better days ahead,” he said.

Reid said the JFF is encouraged by the positive signs of the development of the senior team and other aspects of the technical programme.

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