The re-election, showdown between JFF's president Crenston Boxhill and the former president Captain Horace Burrell, for the presidency of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) on November 4, 2007, will not take place. Boxhill has made it clear that he will not be seeking re-election for that post which he has held since November, 2003.

In an interview with The Gleaner, " Boxhill cited the increased polarisation of the country's football and the unlevel playing field, with contender Burrell 'compromising the process' by his sponsorship of a number of parish associations as major reasons for him to step aside".

The report states that Boxhill is concerned about the deep divisions in the sport saying that "The current administration has faced the most consistent effort of undermining than any previous administration and it does occupy my mind that if it is going to continue, how realistic it will be to build on the momentum, if at every step of the way one has to be looking over one's shoulders."

Boxhill also touched on the "The Back to Africa campaign"  saying that the momentum will be stepped up with the addition of some high-quality sponsorship which is yet to be revealed. Read the full report.

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Jamaica's U-20 Reggae Boyz played a hard fought game but failed to stop Equador for the gold medal in the Pan American Games football final at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro Brazil yesterday. Jamaica, the first Caribbean nation in 28 years to reach the finals, fell 2-1 to their South American opponents in capturing their historic silver medal.

The game started in chilly conditions and Jamaica stunned their opponents in the fifth minute as Eric Vernon latched on to a perfectly waited pass from Kemmar Daley, and calmly slip the ball past Ecuadorian custodian Maximo Banguera. With the small Brazilian crowd firmly in Jamaica's corner cheering every move, and their confidence lifted by the early goal, the young Boyz took control as they had the Ecuadorian defenders in disarray early in the first half.

Ecuador slowly settled and proceeded to dominate, forcing the Jamaican keeper Duwayne Kerr to pull off a few excellent saves. In one such move, late in the half, Kerr had to change direction in mid-air to stop a well-struck 30 yard shot from Israel Chango. Jamaica ended the half leading 1 goal to nil.

The second half started with Jamaica on the attack and they should have increased their lead on the one minute mark. In a quick attack, James Thomas weaved his way into the box but slipped as he was about to shoot and messed up the opportunity. As the game progressed The Reggae Boyz seemed to take a defensive posture giving the Ecuadorians more room to attack.

One such attack paid dividends in the 79th minute, as a goal mouth scramble led to the ball falling into the path of Montero who put it past Kerr from close range.   The young Boyz faced a further setback six minutes from the end of the game as a very questionable penalty was awarded to Ecuador by the Brazilian referee. Captain Edmundo Zura made no mistake in converting the penalty, sending it to the left of Kerr.

According to reports in the Jamaica Observer, "Coach Downswell conceded that his charges suffered from mental lapses in the latter quarter of the game" but continued to say that "when you look at what we have achieved here (in Brazil), I think we have done exceptionally well to finish as silver medalists," More in the Forum

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Jamaica's Under-20 Men's Football Team continued their winning form by beating CONCACAF rivals Mexico 5-4 on penalty shoot-out in the  XV Pan American Games. The win advanced the Boyz to the finals where they will meet Ecuador who beat Bolivia 1-0 in their semi-final game.

Playing without key players John-Ross Doyley and Eric Vernon due to suspensions, the Wendell Downswell-coached  Boyz held the Mexicans to a 0-0 scoreline after regulation play and extra-time. The game went to penalty kicks with Norman Bailey Dwayne Kerr, Dawyne Smith, Troy Smith and James Thomas scoring for Jamaica. Obrian Woodbine missed the target and Ricardo Cousins' shot was saved by the Mexican goalkeeper Sergio Arias. Other teams that have fallen victims to the young Boyz in the tournament are Colombia (1-0), Argentina (2-0) and Haiti (4-0).

Jamaica, who is the first Caribbean team to reach the tournament's final since Cuba in 1979, will face Ecuador for the gold medal at the Maracanã Stadium on Friday (27 July) at 3:00 pm (1:00 pm Jamaica time),, while Mexico will take on Bolivia for the bronze medal.
JAMAICA: Dwayne Kerr – Ajuran Brown, Ricardo Cousins, Kemmar Daley, James Thomas, Edward Campbell (78: Alanzo Alam), Obrian Woodbine, Dawyne Smith, Norman Bailey, Damaine Thompson, Troy Smith. Booked: Brown 45'…More Jamaica football in the Forum

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Jamaica's Under-20 Reggae Boyz booked their place in the semi-finals of the XV (15th) Pan American Games by beating Haiti 4-0 to top Group "C" at the Zico Football Centre in Brazil.  With victories against Colombia (1-0), Argentina (2-0), and Haiti, The Boyz, ended with maximum nine points and will next face giants Mexico who finishing second behind Bolivia in Group "B" for a place in the final.

Jamaica opened the scoring two minutes into the game as James Thomas latched onto a right-sided cross supplied by Reno's Obrian Woodbine and put it pass the Haitian goalkeeper. Sixteen minutes later, midfielder John-Ross Doyley made it 2-0 when he struck a spectacular left-footed free kick from some 40 yards out.  Kemmar Daley notched his fourth goal of the tournament in the 26th minute giving Jamaica a 3-0 lead at halftime.

In the 49th minute Doyley was ejected from the game  for an unnecessarily dangerous tackle in the centre circle leaving the Boyz with a man short. Captain Ricardo Cousins put the game out of the reach of Haiti in the 67th minute with a good strike pass the keeper. The final score could have been five for Jamaica but Daley uncharacteristically missed a penalty. Wendell Downswell, the former coach of Reggae Boyz senior team, said they achieved their first objective which was making it to the semis. The semifinals will take place on Tuesday (24 July) at the Maracanã Stadium with Jamaica taking on Mexico and then Bolivia facing Ecuador....More Jamaica football in the forum.

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The Young Reggae Boyz shocked South American giants Argentina with a 2-0 victory in Group C of the men's competition at the Miecimo da Silva Sports Complex. The win gives Jamaica top spot in the group and a guaranteed place in the semi-finals. Jamaica are on six points from two games ahead of Colombia, three from two, and Argentina and Haiti, one point each from two matches. Colombia beat Haiti 1-0 yesterday.

Meadhaven United player Kaemmar Daley continued his good form by taking his tally for the tournament to three, as he scored both goals for the Young Boyz in the 80th and 90th minutes. Former technical director and coach of the U-20 team, Wendell Downswell,  said he was pleased with the mental toughest of his players. In a report from the Jamaica Observer he stated that "We identified their (Argentina's) weaknesses and made the tactical charges. I think we played splendidly in the second half and the two goals that we score were beautiful, so overall we are pleased with the performance".

The men's tournament continues on Saturday (21 July) as the USA faces Mexico at the Maracanã Stadium and then Brazil hosts Ecuador. Also on Saturday, Venezuela meets Bolivia at the Zico Football Center and then Jamaica plays against Haiti, while at the Miécimo da Silva Sport Complex will have Argentina taking on Colombia and then Costa Rica versus Honduras. The three group winners along with the best second-place finisher will advance to the semifinals at Maracanã Stadium on 24 July. The bronze and gold medal games will take place on 27 July also at Maracanã Stadium.

JAMAICA: Dwayne Kerr – Ajuran Brown, Ricardo Cousins, Eric Vernon, Kemmar Daley, Edward Campbell (72: Dawyne Smith), Obrian Woodbine, Alanzo Adlam (52: James Thomas), John-Ross Doyley, Damaine Thompson, Troy Smith. Booked: Campbell 34', Vernon 52'
ARG: Jose Luis Cornalo – Mariano Ezequiel Bittolo (60: Maximiliano Raffaele), Guido Pizarro, Gaston Sauro, Alvaro Klusener, Franco Zuculini (70: Pablo Sergio Rolon), Nahuel Fernandes, Ezequiel Muñoz (86: Gaston Villarreal), Leandro Basterrechea, Fabio Rodrigo Gimenez, Carlos Benitez. Booked: Klusener 56', Basterrechea 84. More Jamaican football in the Forum

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Showing their superiority, Brazil outplayed Jamaica's Senior Women's footballers, beating them 5-0 in their second match of Group 'A' action here yesterday at the Joao Havalange Olympic Stadium. Brazil now moves to the top of the group with six points from two games, followed by Canada with three from one then followed by Jamaica with three points from two matches.

Brazil opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Katia Celine pounced on a fumbled ball by Jamaican custodian Paula Jackson in the six-yard box and tapped it into an empty net. Brazil struck again in the 23rd minute with a beautiful curling shot 20 yards out from Daniela Alves The scoreline could have been much worse at half-time had it not been for some poor finishing and a couple brilliant saves by Jackson in goal for Jamaica.

Brazil kept the pressure in the second half netting another three goals. The third goal came in the 52nd minute when Celine easily tapped in a left-sided cross supplied by the marauding Silva. Thirteen minutes later, a clumsy tackle by Fearon in the box led to a penalty which was converted by Silva to make the score 4-0. Brazil's fifth goal again came from the penalty spot after Jackson brought down Cilene inside the box.The Reggae Girlz's next outing will be against Uruguay tomorrow at the Miecimo da Silva Complex, the venue where they beat Ecuador 1-0.

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Jamaica ended its four game Asian tour on a low note as they were defeated 8-1 by the Republic of Iran in their international friendly at the Azadi Sports Complex. In what has been called a surgical demolition of Jamaica, Iran sent a strong warning to their Asian rivals that Iran is serious about winning the upcoming Asian Cup which it captured in 1968, 1972 and 1976. 

With Iran using its full team and a star studded line up, the young and inexperienced Reggae Boyz were overwhelmed unable to offer any threat to the Asian Powerhouse. This was quickly evident as in the first 40 seconds of play, Iran's Hashemian unleashed a powerful shot which goalkeeper Dwayne Miller parried for a corner. From the resulting corner kick, Javad Nekounam scored with a nice header from the back post.

Iran continued their attacked on Jamaica and scored their 2nd goal in as many minutes when Merhzad Madanchi unleashed a powerful shot from about 25 meters past the diving Miller. Although the Reggae Boyz tried to regroup, it was to no avail as the Iranians continued their assault scoring two more goals from Madanchi and Hashemian before the first half ended.

In the second half, Iran picked up where they had left off scoring 4 more goals. Although out-played and unable to create serious scoring chances, Jamaica was able to grab back a goal midway through the half. Fabian Taylor hit a header past substitute goal-keeper Mehi Rahmati from a Fabian Davis corner delivery.

The Boyz are scheduled to depart Iran on Wednesday morning for Los Angeles via the Netherlands. They are expected home on Thursday morning. More in the Reggae Boyz forum

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