Captain Burrell bent on steadying JFF ship

Jamaica's football has come full circle, with the recent return of charismatic businessman Captain Horace Burrell to the helm of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).

Burrell, who spent the last four years increasing his clout among the who's who of international football, suffered a shock defeat to immediate past president Crenston Boxhill at the JFF voting congress in 2003. However, he regained the presidency unopposed at the most recent election.

Recognised for his role in leading Jamaica's historic charge to the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, Burrell has affirmed his commitment to the programme. He has also sought to assure local supporters that the drive for success is as fervent as it ever was, and expressed the hope of making his current stint a successful third term (following terms from 1994 to 1998 and 1998 to 2003).

Elements of the "Burrell Plan" have already been rolled out, and many believe that the former army man possesses the necessary acumen, experience and charisma to address the ills of an ailing programme.

Key to the rebuilding effort is the appointment of technical director Rene Simoes for his second tour of duty. The wily Brazilian returns to the country that he helped to qualify for the World Cup in 1998, and vows to repeat this feat as the national senior team seeks to take its place among the best in the world for the 2010 showpiece event in South Africa.

If the country is to ever experience another successful era in international football, then close attention must be placed on the development of the game at the grass-root level. The football academy is of priority and must be firmly established to maximise on the talent of Jamaican players.

The country has witnessed steady growth in largely novel areas such as the female and youth programmes. No doubt, the administration of Burrell will recognise that special emphasis is needed to drive these areas to even greater heights. Domestic leagues and parish associations have a vital role to play in the final results of a programme and will need to be included in any plan for development.

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Thrilling Twenty20 Cricket explodes in the Caribbean

The beautiful islands of Antigua and Barbuda are famous for producing cricketing legends such as Sir Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Richie Richardson and Curtly Ambrose. However, since first welcoming the spectacle in 2006, the lush tropical isle has also come to be known as the hub for the Caribbean's most exciting brand of cricket, Stanford 20/20 (or as the International Cricket Council puts it, "Twenty20").

The term "cricket lovely cricket" takes full effect in this relatively new format, as boundaries are attacked with constant raids from free-scoring batsmen and energy and effort is evident in every bowler's delivery.

The action is set to unfold at the Stanford Cricket Ground in Coolidge, Antigua, and will feature 20 matches. The first match will be played on January 25, 2008 and the grand final will take place on February 24, 2008.

Since its introduction in England in 2003, the Twenty20 format, which sees both teams having a single innings consisting of twenty overs, has grown to become a global phenomenon. It has succeeded in rekindling mass support for the game. As hoped, it has had the same effect in the region, as fans travelled in droves from all over the Caribbean to witness the first installment last year.

The brainchild of American financial mogul Allen Stanford, the tournament will consist of 20 teams this year, one more than last year. With over US$2 million in total prizes up for grabs, this year's tournament is expected to be as competitive as ever.

Defending champions Guyana will be hard-pressed to retain their crown with the likes of Trinidad and Tobago (the team they defeated in the finals), Jamaica and Barbados among the contenders. Bermuda, along with home team Antigua and Barbuda, could play the role as spoilers and force a few upsets along the way.

In a recent interview with Buzzz, event coordinator Rhonda Kelly expressed excitement about the return of the tournament and advised that it's "all systems go" for the one-month competition.

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