‘EMPOWERING OUR OWN
’Appointment of former national players as coaches strategic, says JFF president
The appointment of former Reggae Boyz captain Rodolph Austin and Reggae Girl World Cup player Sashana Campbell as coaches of Jamaica’s youth teams is not by chance, says Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts.
Austin has been named the national Under-20 head coach, while Campbell has been appointed assistant for three of the youth teams.
The JFF listed a slew of changes to the coaching positions at the various youth levels. And Austin, a former midfield enforcer for the the national side and at the club level with Portmore United (Jamaica), Brann (Norway), and Leeds (England) steps up from the role as assistant coach.
Campbell, who played at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, has been named assistant at the girls Under-14, Under-15, and Under-17 levels.
The JFF boss said it’s part of a strategic move to involve former national players as coaches.
“It is indeed a deliberate movement to ensure that we utilise our own past players who would have qualified themselves for national duties,” Ricketts told the Jamaica Observer.
“We would have given this some serious thought and, obviously, if you have your own home-grown talents that have prepared themselves well at coaching education programme then I think it’s only fair,” he noted.
“I can say this is a deliberate act to ensure that we empower our own past players instead of bringing in strangers who sometimes lack the commitment. So, yes, this is indeed a way that we have decided to go,” Ricketts reiterated.
Michael Ricketts, president of the Jamaica Football Federation
Veteran Coach Wendell Downswell will serve as Austin’s assistant at the Under-20 level.
Downswell will be the head coach at the Under-17 level, having taken that age group to the 2011 World Cup — the last male Jamaica team to reach any FIFA World Cup.
Downswell will be assisted by Vassel Reynolds, Carlton Simmonds, and Altimont “Freddie” Butler.
Leacroft Lettman will continue as Under-20 women’s head coach and will be assisted by Tamera Williams.
Williams, who helped to guide Jamaica to the semi-finals run of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Girls U14 Challenge Series in Trinidad and Tobago recently, will continue as head coach of the U14 Girls. Williams will also be head coach of the national girls Under-15 team.
Marlon Hylton will be head coach of the U-17 Reggae Girlz team.
Andrew Peart, who led Jamaica to the CFU Boys U14 Challenge Series trophy in 2024 and the Concacaf Boys U15 Championship League “B” title in 2025 will continue as head coach of the U-15 team. Peart will be assisted by Vassel Reynolds.
The Under-14 Reggae Boyz will be led by Vassel Reynolds. Former referee Lewin Purser will be Reynolds’ assistant coach.
Downswell, Butler, and Williams are also former national players.
Rodolph Austin.
RICKETTS… this is a deliberate act to ensure that we empower our own past players instead of bringing in strangers who sometimes lack the commitment Photo: Joseph Wellington
