We well recall the discomfort of Jamaica Football Federation President Mr Michael Ricketts as he contemplated a shortage of funds ahead of the final phase of World Cup qualifying.

“We are disappointed that we have not gotten as much financial support as we would have liked,” Mr Ricketts said just days ahead of the Reggae Boyz’s departure in early September for their game against Bermuda in Hamilton.

“…I would like to be relaxed now… but I have to be worried because we have a travel agency to pay close to $30 million for the charter coming up and we still have not raised that $30 million,” he added.

No doubt Mr Ricketts is much more relaxed now since the Reggae Boyz gathered full points from their first two games, which would have greatly encouraged sponsors.

But his comments back then illustrated the stresses with which cash-starved sports administrators must cope.

The need by sporting bodies for financial support from Government and private sector is not just about logistics and day-to-day running of an organisation. Very importantly, it’s about thorough preparation of teams for competition at all levels.

In that respect, Ms Annett Daley, head coach of the Under-21 Sunshine Girls — just returned from the World Youth Netball Cup in Gibraltar — suggested the fortunes of her team could have worked out “differently” with more resources and better preparation.

The young Jamaicans finished fifth in Gibraltar.

Said Ms Daley: “Doing things differently would not be at the tournament. The differently would have to be before the tournament…”

Inevitably that must involve more funding from all sources.

And while for the recently re-elected Jamaican Government social services such as health and education must take priority, it can’t be forgotten that success in sport has contributed incalculably to the promotion and value of the Jamaica brand, and well-being of our people.

Success on the track at the recent World Athletics Championships served as a timely reminder.

Also, we are grateful to Mr Chris Dehring, CEO of Cricket West Indies, for speaking frankly about the financial difficulties facing the governing body for regional cricket. This was at the recent announcement of cost-cutting measures including the reduction of developmental programmes.

Noting that West Indies are obliged to host Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and New Zealand next year — tours that are traditionally unprofitable — Mr Dehring said life up ahead will be extremely challenging.

Said he: “…We’re not going to be able to recoup even the television production costs of those tours, much less make a profit to pay for all the developmental tournaments.

“…We host over 33 events next year — tours, tournaments, overseas tours, domestic leagues, training camps — and… we’ve had to make some fairly significant changes to those tournaments and tours, simply because we’re not going to have the cash.”

Even if the International Cricket Council can be persuaded to restructure its financial model to better support cash-strapped members such as Cricket West Indies, Caribbean governments and business corporations will have to come to the table more comprehensively.

That is if all the talk about saving West Indies cricket is not just cheap chatter.