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I am confident of re-election, says Ricketts - Number of delegates eligible to vote moves from 13 to 56
December 21, 2022
Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Michael Ricketts is confident he will be re-elected when elections are called next year, despite the increase in the number of delegates eligible to vote moving from 13 to 56.
The long-awaited ratification and approval of the JFF statutes and voting membership was eventually finalised at the federation's annual general meeting (AGM) held at the Belair High School in Mandeville yesterday.
However, Ricketts does not see the increase in the voting members as a threat to his reign when they go to the polls some time in the new year.
"I will be contesting," he declared. "Since (general secretary) Dennis Chung has come on board we have really done a lot of hard work putting things in place and repairing what would have gone awry.
"I don't know who my opponent or opponents will be. But I am pretty confident that we have done enough work and we have a lot more to do," he said.
Meanwhile, Ricketts said the increase in the voting membership is an important landmark, noting that persons over the years have disagreed with the process of having just 13 persons deciding the leadership of the country's football and that yesterday's outcome would have vindicated this administration's position on the issue.
"Going forward, 56 persons as of the next election will determine who leads the JFF," he said.
Parish associations will get two votes each. The Professional Football Jamaica Limited and the Tier Two League will get four votes each, as will the Jamaica Women's Premier League and the women's Tier Two, when that comes into being next year.
There will also be a pair of votes for interest groups such as the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association, Jamaica Football Referees Association, the Jamaica Inter-Collegiate Sports Association, Jamaica Football Coaches Association as well as the Jamaica Football Past Players Association.
"We had a long and detailed look and met with FIFA twice, Concacaf and the board of directors.
"The parish associations numbers have increased and we have brought in clubs and interest groups, such as referees, coaches and inter-col.
"We have always thought that 13 votes was never a true reflection of the interest groups, who ought to have a say in selecting the person who runs football. So at the upcoming elections, 56 will be eligible to vote and will make a determination as to who leads football in Jamaica," he stated.
