Blatter, Warner at JFF awards

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Accom-panied by CONCACAF president Jack Austin Warner, FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter will hand out special awards to those who have given sterling service to Jamaica’s football, at a special ceremony by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) at the Pegasus Hotel’s Grand Ball Room here, as part of an historic day in the nation yesterday. Those to be honoured have served as past presidents of the JFF, past referees, referees in World Cup, past players and national coaches. Past JFF Presidents: Dr Ron Gordon (1965-1967), Locksley Comrie (1975-1979), Patrick Anderson (1979-1980), Lincoln “Happy” Sutherland (1980-1981), Hugh Perry (1981-1982), Dr Winston Dawes (1982-1986), Anthony James (1986-1992) and Heron Dale (1992-1994).

Past Referees: Karl Stewart, Ken Chaplain, Clarence Cooke, Whilston Taylor, Winston “Dirks” Campbell and Steve Bucknor. Referees in World Cup: Peter Predendergast, FIFA referee (World Cup 2002) and Owen Powell, FIFA assistant referee (World Cup 1998). Past Players: Lester Alcock (1950s), Syd Bartlett (1960s), Allan Cole (1970s), Paul “Tegat” Davis (1980s) and Walter Boyd (1990s). National Coaches: Winston Chung Fah, Carl Brown, George Thompson, Winthorpe “Jackie” Bell and Dennis Ziadie. Both Blatter and Warner will also break ground for the construction of Jamaica’s National Training facility in Portmore, St Catherine. After the ceremony in Portmore, Blatter and Warner will attend an international double-header at the King-ston’s National Stadium when Jamaica’s under-23 squad meet Guate-mala in the first-leg of the CONCACAF Olympic Qualification Second Round series, and then later the Jamaica senior team face El Salvador in a friendly international.

The event is being billed as a celebration of the country’s historic qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, a feat the Reggae Boyz pulled off after holding Mexico to a 0-0 draw in the same venue and on the same date in 1997. “The occasion this weekend is a fitting one for the presence of the FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter,” said Warner. “Not only will the anniversary of an historical achievement be celebrated but this visit will also mark the start of construction on a facility which I guarantee you will be top class and beneficial to a country which is obviously serious about the development of their football.”