Dear Editor,

In a few weeks the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) will have a new president to guide the development of our national football programme.

Constitutionally, only the 13 parish presidents will have the power to determine who’ll sit on the throne at the JFF’s headquarters. The thousands of non-voting stakeholders need to feel a part of the process as it is they who will support or not support the new president.

For example, it is members of private sector organisations who will be called on to sponsor the proposed development programmes and travel to engage in crucial international exposure. The fans are the ones who will decide whether they should turn out and fill the stands at the stadium. It’s the Government that must decide if tax dollars should be extended to underwrite expenses.

To this end, I’m proposing that all nominees for the position participate in at least one televised ‘presidential debate’ to be followed by a public opinion poll.

My sense is that the 13 football association presidents have already made up their minds, and that is fine. But let’s hear from those who can make or break the future of our football programme

Richard Kitson-Walters, EdD

Sandy Bay, Clarendon

richardkitsonwalters@gmail.com