JFF gone mad....
I was watching the Jamaican news and heard where the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) wants to take control of schoolboy football. Comments were made that a schoolboy cannot choose between country and school. In essence, if he is called to play for his country, it is mandatory that he plays. He is not allowed to cop out and play for his school instead.
This recent stance by the JFF seems like a colonial approach and should be blocked by the schools. It is unfair to force a schoolboy to play national football if he does not want to. To block that player from playing for his school if he chooses not to represent his country is a form of dictatorship which should not be tolerated by Principals and administrators of any of the high schools in the Manning and DaCosta Cups.
While I agree that national spirit should be foremost, chose is also critical to the freedoms that we hold dear. Some compromise must be reached that both the JFF and schools are happy. To make such a law as is being proposed is a backward step which will backfire in the long run.
Traditional schools who have a rich history in schoolboy football oftentimes will hold their school pride above national pride. This is so because long before there was under 17 and under 20 these schools saw the importance of investing in schoolboy football. The JFF does not invest any money into developing the schoolboy teams which become a part of the national outfit. So how can they dictate to these schools? I have worked closely with one schoolboy team and I can assure you that it takes a lot of money and time to develop a team that can win the triple in schoolboy football. A typical team will require nutrition[in the form of food and supplements], football gears and equipment, extra lessons for team members, counselling and guidance, coach and coaching staff, field maintenance and other things. It is the school administrators as well as old boys who raise the capital necessary to run a proper program. The JFF does not give schools any money to run their program.
The JFF faced the same dilemma with overseas players in the senior outfit. You cannot expect a club to invest millions in a player and at any given time you call them to national duties. The JFF has to abide by FIFA rules in order to have access to these players, and they can't block them from playing for a club. In fact the club can decide not to send a player if they feel that sending such a player would result in them losing games.
This high and mighty approach by the JFF is regrettable. Proper dialogue should take place with ISSA and the schools before any pronouncement of this nature is made. It is unprofessional and irresponsible of the JFF to take this approach. One hopes that Captain Burrell will review this matter and common sense will be utilized.
Treasure the morning,
it rose to greet you,
it could have stayed on the horizon,
but it brought living light into your life,
Treasure the evening,
the sun could have decided to stay in the sky,
instead the moon took its place,
glowing in the darkness,
Treasure your loved ones,
you may never see them tomorrow,
you may never hear their whispers anymore,
your kind words of love may never reach their soul,
Treasure God daily,
fall on your knees,
thank him for his love,
lift his name to the heavens,
celebrate the birth of his Son,
Treasure kind words,
it lifts a heavy soul,
it brings a smile in sorrow,
it buries stress,
and brings joy,
Treasure time,
it allows us to heal,
it gives us a chance to forgive those who have wronged us,
it brings wisdom,
Treasure small things,
they are often worth more than gold,
take time to enjoy them,
live life to be happy,
Treasure friendship,
embrace it,
study it,
become a student of it,
its a blessing from God,
Treasure now,
its all you have,
use it wisely...
Dayne-Christopher
"When you put everything in God's hands, he will bring blessings you never thought possible."
DCA
I have learnt long ago,
that you cannot trust man,
been bruised and battered by promises,
clinging like a drowned soul,
to a sinking hope,
I have learnt that God is the way,
in worship I surrender to him,
he never leaves or forsakes,
he carries my sorrows,
when they become a burden,
I have learnt that tears are useful,
but lessons are to be learnt,
and wisdom is to be gained from heartache,
in grief God has spoken to me,
telling me a story of relief,
he makes my heart heal each day,
I have learnt that love is the answer,
that lack of forgiveness makes a heart colder,
that with each word of blessing,
a smile grows stronger,
taking stress from within,
I have learnt that worrying changes nothing,
that darkness follows the weak,
and that within us lives a bright light molded by God,
waiting to explode into others,
I have learnt to be me,
to love God because God first loved me,
to show love to the needy,
and to give as God has prospered me,
to love myself,
so that I can show love to others,
I have learnt not to put my trust in man,
as man is imperfect,
tossed and turned by sin,
always seeking to please themselves,
I have learnt to pray more,
to surrender to God in worship daily,
each day is a blessings,
each moment brings such joy,
in God my happiness is renewed,
I am being restored by the hour,
thank you God for your lessons....
Dayne-Christopher
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