Grange working to end rift between Reggae Girlz, JFF
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Expressing her concern about the ongoing rift between the senior Reggae Girlz and the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Minister of Sport Olivia Grange says she is working towards mending the relationship between both parties.
“As minister, I have been careful not to say or do anything that could be seen as political interference in Jamaica’s football programme. However, like any other fan, I have been concerned about the relationship between the Jamaica Football Federation and members of the Reggae Girlz squad,” Grange said in a statement on Monday.
None of the players who played for Jamaica at this summer’s Fifa Women’s World Cup and the Paris Olympic Qualifiers in September are part of the squad for the upcoming Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup qualifying matches against Panama and Guatemala, having turned down selection to the team in a move they said is to “end the cycle of mistreatment from the JFF” which allegedly includes not being paid in full for their participation at the World Cup and qualification for the tournament.
“While this has been the hardest decision we have had to make, we feel it is necessary…We have yet to receive full and correct payments for our historical performances at the World Cup and the numerous outstanding bonuses for qualifying in the summer of 2022. We have dealt with…delayed payments from the JFF time and time again,” the Girlz said in a statement.
READ: Reggae Girlz say Gold Cup qualifiers call-up rejection is to “end JFF’s cycle of mistreatment”
In response, the JFF suspended the players indefinitely, saying in a statement that it was “uncomfortable with the response of the players and the non-attendance of the player representatives to a scheduled meeting…”.
However, the federation said it is eager to clear up all concerns from the players.
Grange, meanwhile, said she has “…been in dialogue with both sides in an attempt to bring them together and will continue to do my utmost to facilitate an amicable resolution in the interest of Jamaica.”
The new-look Reggae Girlz squad will have a training session in Panama City on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s game against Panama as they seek to qualify for the first-ever Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup set for February 20 to March 10 next year in the United States.
Following the Panama game, the delegation will fly to Jamaica where they will host Guatemala on Saturday.
Only the winner of the three-team group will advance to the Gold Cup.
