I have never been consulted on track and field matters by the JAAA — Stephen Francis
ONE of the most powerful names in athletics, Stephen Francis, says he has never been consulted by the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) on track and field matters. Francis, the coaching guru at the MVP track club, was responding to a question from the Jamaica Observer on — whether or not he has ever considered a JAAA post.
“MVP/UTech (University of Technology) have essentially created the current success that Jamaica now enjoy in athletics. Since 2003, we have been the core of the Jamaican team. Currently UTech alone has six athletes on this team, with five of them doing individual events,” Francis pointed out.
“It is unimaginable that we have never, ever been consulted about Jamaican athletics,” said Francis, when it was confirmed that one of his athletes, Nesta Carter, would not participate at the present World Championships because of what he called the JAAA’s negligence.
“Nobody has said, these guys might be doing something different from everybody else. Let us consult with them. Let’s us try and see what information they can give us to help us to improve what we are doing,” he noted.
The club was established in 1999 by
co-founders Francis, who is the vice-president and technical director, his brother Paul Francis, treasurer and assistant head coach; David Noel, secretary and Bruce James, president.
Former record holder Asafa Powell was the man at the forefront in the early days propelling MVP to international status, along with Brigette Foster-Hylton, Michael Frater, and Nesta Carter. Now MVP has among others in their ranks Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Kaliese Spencer, Stephenie-Ann McPherson, Christine Day, Shericka Jackson, Elaine Thompson and O’Dayne Richards. MVP is represented at the current World Championships in Beijing by 15 athletes.
“The last thing on their mind (JAAA) in my opinion is the performance of the athletes, the performance of the country, that’s not what they are here about. They are caring about something else which I don’t know what it is. The focus was and is very wrong,” said Francis.
