JFF vows to provide tools for Boyz’ WC campaign
With the salary impasse involving the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and Reggae Boyz now settled, Dalton Wint, general secretary of the association, said they will be moving together as an unify force with the objective squarely set on doing great things at the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifiers later this year.
The JFF and players signed a two-and-half-year contract to coincide with the end of Michael Ricketts' term as president, and will cover two Gold Cup tournaments, the present World Cup qualifier campaign, friendly matches and a Nation League tournament.
Aiming to qualify
The Reggae Boyz, who are aiming to qualify for their second FIFA men's World Cup in Qatar in 2022, are scheduled to begin the final round of the World Cup qualifiers in September. The Boyz are scheduled to participate in the group stages Gold Cup tournament in July.
Wint told STAR Sports that the main objective of the federation now is to provide international matches for the Reggae Boyz in order to keep the players in tip-top shape ahead of the tournaments later this year.
"We have to ensure that we have games for the team and for them to gel because the coach has indicated that and we need to provide it for them," Wint said.
"The plan is also for us now to move from strength to strength now that this is behind us and that we are united going forward," he said.
Wint underscored that it is going to cost the federation over a billion dollars to sustain the national programme for the World Cup qualifiers. He also noted that the JFF would be moving aggressively in its marketing campaign because they have employed the services of marketing Shanique Dunchie to lead this process.
"We need the players, we need the team, we need the Government, we need sponsors and so we need all hands on deck at this time for this campaign," Wint said.