Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts is asking Jamaica Women’s Premier League (JWPL) clubs to be patient despite their pending funding, which was promised to them by the Government.

The JWPL approaches the semi-final stage in its first season this weekend, but clubs are struggling with maintenance costs because they have not received the monthly payment of $100,000, which was promised in February.

During the launch of the JWPL at that time, Sport Minister Olivia Grange, who was present, promised a $3-million sponsorship of the league to its organisers, Professional Women’s Football Jamaica Limited (PWFJL), and $100,000 monthly for the five months of the league, to each of the 11 competing clubs. That meant a total of $8.5 million promised.

“I’m a strong advocate for gender equality and promoting women in sports,” Grange said at the launch on February 12. “It doesn’t just mean players, but at the leadership and management level, coaches and other professions that go along with the performance of the players. I’m very proud when I see our women stepping forward and doing very well in these areas.”

However, with that monthly payment not received, some clubs have struggled to afford their operational costs or to even play their games. Without the funding, clubs have had to cover costs associated with their games out of their own treasury. Some clubs have also negotiated with stakeholders on the basis that related balances for transactions would be paid once the money has been issued by the Government, through the Sports Development Foundation (SDF).

The Jamaica Observer has learnt that some clubs have questioned whether they can participate under similar circumstances next season, as they are not self-sufficient enough to continue without assistance.

A recent match between hosts Cavalier and Springers United was put off because the visiting team could not afford the transportation cost associated with a round trip between Salt Spring, St James, and Kingston.

“Unfortunately, we do not have the necessary funds for transportation, and our personal out-of-pocket resources have been fully exhausted,” Springers said in a social media post. “While we had an agreement in place with our transportation provider based on the anticipated JFF funding, the funds have not yet been disbursed.”

The Observer reached out to Springers United for a better understanding of their issues but received no response.

The Observer also contacted SDF General Manager Alan Beckford about the status of the funding and whether it has been approved, but also received no response from him.

But Ricketts says his understanding is that the delay relates to a breakdown in some sponsorship arrangements.

“We are intent, though, on fulfilling the promise that was made by the JFF because of commitments that were made by some sponsors who have indicated that, yes, they are still part of the programme,” Ricketts told the Observer. “So I’m just imploring the clubs to be a little patient as we try to navigate a number of commercial issues. But we are intent on fulfilling our commitment.”

JFF Women’s Committee Chairperson Elaine Walker-Brown, who is also the St Catherine Football Association president, describes these issues in the JWPL’s first season as “teething pains”.

“I know what it is where funding is concerned,” she said. “I am the vice-president for Federal United (another JWPL club), so I was the one that got Federal involved. It’s a lot of sacrifice, and I’m just hoping that the second year will be fine, and the money that is owed to them will be paid up. I’m a part of the feeling, but for us as women, it’s not easy. Even myself in St Catherine, I will get the commendation but not the funding, so I just ask that the clubs just bear with us. I am in dialogue with them.”

Walker-Brown, however, says she is confident the Government will honour its promise.

“The minister has promised, and I think that they will deliver,” she said. “I’ve spoken to someone in that area, so it’s just for the clubs to bear with us some more, and we hope for better next year. We see the corporate figures that came on the first year, and once we apply ourselves and make the women’s game more attractive, and we behave ourselves and be disciplined as women, we’ll attract those persons that we want to come on board. So we hope that next year will be bigger and better.”

PWFJL Chairperson Christina Hudson, while commending the clubs for their commitment to the league despite financial challenges, is also hopeful that the matter will soon be resolved.

“I would like to celebrate how far we have come this season, celebrate the positive changes,” she said. “We really appreciate Minister Grange and the SDF for coming on board publicly with their support. Even though 18 weeks have passed, I am hopeful that the clubs will be getting their funding any minute now.”