Western Grandstand- Just speaking my mind as I see fit

It has come to my attention that the article I wrote last week, which was published under the caption ''JFF stagnant, needs fresh leadership'', has angered some football personalities here in western Jamaica who are claiming that it was an unwarranted attack on the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and its president, Captain Horace Burrell.

However, as most of the persons who would have wasted their telephone credit taking me to task should have realised over the years, whether in my capacity as a journalist or during my time as a football administrator, I have never ever been timid about speaking my mind.

While I don't mind being criticised, I feel insulted by claims that the article was designed to promote Orville Powell's failed bid to displace Burrell as JFF president.

As I stated in the column, "... I am not saying Orville Powell is the best man, or the right man, to lead Jamaica's football, (but) I believe the sport is crying out for new leadership ..."

What I find painfully disgusting is the fact that some of the persons who have been talking up a storm behind my back are persons with whom I have worked in football, who should know that I have too much pride and self-respect to accept a bribe to write a story.

I have been around football, entertainment, and politics for well over 30 years, and thankfully, no one can truthfully say that I have ever accepted payment to put a story in the newspaper.

I can boast that I am as clean as a whistle.

negative comments

I find it rather odd that some of these individuals, whom I understand are driving the negative conversations about me, are persons who are so badly tainted in terms of their conduct over the years that they will be seen as

pariahs by persons who value credibility.

What I find most amusing is that while the naysayers are bellyaching about what I wrote, it has either escaped Burrell's attention, or he has no difficulty with the column. Based on experience over the years, when the JFF boss thinks that I am unfair to him in an article, he has never been shy to call me up and complain about it.

Over the years, I have always had a fairly decent working relationship with Burrell, and I am sure that he would have realised by now that I am not one to bash a person behind his back and then smile with him when I see him. I always call it as I see it, and I am always ready to defend what I write.

My business as a journalist is to be fair, even if it means being fearless at times. I know that based on his vast experience in the limelight, Burrell would have realised, even appreciated, the fact that since the late 1990s, Jamaica's football has been struggling and has fallen several notches.

As I stated in last week's column, "Jamaica will forever be grateful to Burrell for guiding us to the 1998 World Cup in France"; however, every Jamaican, who wishes the nation's football well, should be hoping to replace those good old memories with fresh new memories.

So instead of seeking to impress with their unsolicited badmouthing on behalf of the JFF boss, I think they would be better served by joining me in telling Captain Burrell that our football needs a generous injection of fresh ideas to start moving again.

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adrianfrater@hotmail.com.