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JFF: German trip was ultimate test
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
JAMAICA'S football boss Captain Horace Burrell said his administration faced its greatest organisational test in getting the Reggae Boyz to Germany for a hastily arranged friendly international against South Africa last Wednesday.
Burrell and general secretary Horace Reid, who led the charge in putting the pieces together for the game in Frankfurt, agreed the JFF's administrative firmament has never confronted a sterner test in facilitating a game.
BURRELL... we were able to pull this off with absolutely no time to work with REID... I’ve never had such a challenge BURRELL... we were able to pull this off with absolutely no time to work with 1/2
"This is the greatest challenge we've ever faced in terms of preparing for a game -- friendly or competition. The fact... is that we were able to pull this off with absolutely no time to work with," said Burrell on Sunday.
It all started when the JFF was contacted on Friday, April 23, by the South African Football Association (SAFA) for the Jamaicans to fill the gap for a match the following Wednesday created by the late withdrawal of China.
At first, conceded Burrell, it appeared an impossible task, considering the time limitations in getting a team together, getting embassy appointments for the required Shengen visa to land in Germany and to address the logistics of getting the group into Europe on such short notice and in time for the game.
"We looked at it, we thought, 'Wow!' But we were not going to let the opportunity slip, and straightaway we pulled our team together and started the work," explained the veteran football administrator.
"It cost us sleepless nights, but we knew this was an opportunity for us to earn some well-needed cash, plus it presented an opportunity to get a game for the team who was idle for the month of March, which would provide further exposure for the local-based players," added Burrell.
In launching the "mission impossible", the JFF was successful in engaging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, South African and German Embassies in Kingston, the Ministry of Sport and SAFA in creating a formidable network.
"Everybody answered our call, at no point we felt we were alone... the South African Ambassador Faith Radebe in particular was up with us late at night working on this matter... she had to be on the telephone with her German counterpart as we tried to set up a special session for the visa application for the following Monday morning to facilitate a Tuesday departure of the team," Burrell explained.
"All of this negotiating and brainstorming was happening over the weekend when
these people are not normally at work, so we want to offer the most generous of thanks to them and we are forever grateful," added the CONCACAF Executive Committee member.
Burrell also thanked the JFF staff for their "hard work" and the players for the performance they gave in a 0-2 losing effort in the face of overbearing circumstances, compounded by jetlag from their nine-hour trans-Atlantic travel.
"The success of this mission goes to show that there are talented and competent people working at the JFF, individuals who are prepared to go beyond and above the call of duty as was on display in pulling this one off. I also lift my hat to the players for the way they equipped themselves and their positive response on the field of play," he said.
Reid was a drained man when he spoke to the Observer from the Waitz Landaus Hotel in Frankfurt last Wednesday.
"This was an experience and a true test of the administration of the JFF. I've never had such a challenge," said the experienced football administrator, who has functioned in high-level positions at the CONCACAF level.
After successfully applying for and receiving their Shengen visas on Monday, the team departed Jamaica the following day in small groups for Germany, arriving on Wednesday — the very day of the match.
It seems that JA tried to set up a game with Nigeria but things did not work out:
NFF Rejects Jamaica, South Africa Friendlies 5 May 2010
Lagos — World Cup-bound Nigeria has rejected proposals to tackle South Africa and Jamaica ahead of the tournament next month, officials have disclosed.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)'s Secretary General, Bolaji Ojo-Oba, said the country could not raise a team for a proposed May 16 warm-up against World Cup host, Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
"It would have been great to play this match, but the snag is that we may not be able to raise a team before that date as most of our players would only just be finishing the season at their European clubs," said Ojo-Oba.
Lagerback has also rejected a chance to take on the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica in London.
"Lars Lagerback (Nigeria coach) has turned down a proposal to have the Eagles play against Jamaica because such a match will not add value to the team's World Cup build-up as none of the Eagles' opponents comes from the Jamaican region," said NFF Technical Chairman, Taiwo Ogunjobi.
Nigeria has confirmed that it will take on Iceland on May 26 and, four days later, tackle Colombia - both in London - before its final preparatory match against North Korea on June 4 in South Africa.
