The latest brouhaha involving the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and member of the national senior men’s team Mr Leon Bailey is pathetic and can only serve to distract the Reggae Boyz as they head into the Copa America competition.

A lot has already been said in this sordid affair which surrounds a set of ridiculous demands made on the JFF by Mr Bailey’s agent, Mr Craig Butler, who is no stranger to pairing outrageous conditions with the availability of his charge for national service.

We well remember in 2018 when then Reggae Boyz Head Coach Mr Theodore Whitmore wanted to give Mr Bailey his first call-up to the senior national team, Mr Butler insisted that the call-up be a “twofer”, meaning that Mr Bailey would be available only if his adoptive brother, Mr Kyle Butler, be included in the team.

Over time Mr Bailey has, in at least two interviews of which we are aware, been highly critical of the JFF. And while some of the issues he raised are legitimate and need to be addressed, we could not get over his nonsensical claim in one of those interviews that people from the JFF sought to block him from getting a visa to travel overseas to play football.

His most recent declarations that the Jamaica national team can’t give him exposure, and that it is really he who is shining light on the team because he is known worldwide are really expressions of a young man who, despite his talent, is really in need of guidance, especially given that his output for the national team does not match his boast.

The JFF is no doubt the public’s punching bag for frustrations with local football. And the federation has only itself to blame for that, as its track record has been less than stellar. We find, though, that there are instances when the JFF is not directly at fault but it is the target of criticism. A case in point is public reaction to the lighting issue at the National Stadium earlier this month that resulted in Concacaf changing the kick-off time for Jamaica’s World Cup qualifier against the Dominican Republic.

The Reggae Boyz, we are told, are scheduled to depart today for the Conmebol Copa America 2024. They will open their account on June 22 against Mexico. Although the team has been through two qualifying games for the 2026 World Cup over the past two weeks, Head Coach Mr Heimir Hallgrímsson has just a few days to make corrections in the areas that he and his staff saw a need during the qualifiers.

As we have stated before, the national team needs players who are not only talented, but who respect authority and who recognise that one of the greatest glories of sport is to represent one’s country.

There should be no place in the squad for people who have a sense of entitlement just because they play in any of the top leagues abroad.

The team does not need or deserve the current distraction. It needs to focus on its immediate assignment. And, looking forward, the JFF, as well as the country, must get beyond the impatience that afflicts this sport. Skill and success are achieved through consistent investment in resources, talent, and discipline over time.

Professionalism is indeed required at all levels of the sport.