April 3, 2007
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Coach Vin Blaine
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The Jamaica Football Federation
regrets the resignation of Coach Blaine as Coach of the National
Womens’ teams. The Federation appreciates the very positive
contribution of Mr. Blaine to the development of the women’s
programme over the years.
The Federation feels it necessary
to explain the circumstances that seemed to have led to Mr.
Blaine’s resignation. At the recent CFU Congress attended by the
President, national federations were mandated to add a U-15 unit
to their National Female Programme; this enables them participate
in upcoming competitions such as the inaugural CFU U-15 Women’s
Football Tournament to be held in August 2007, as well as other
tournaments such as the CAC Games and the Pan American Games.
Additionally, adding this extra unit better prepares teams in the
region to participate and/or qualify to the FIFA U-17 and FIFA
U-20 Women’s World Cups.
The immediate implication for
Jamaica would be the need to expand the coaching cadre as well as
to look at the development programme for womens’ football.
The President convened a meeting
on Friday March 30. The meeting included Coach Blaine; Mr. Andrew
Price, Chairman of the JFF Technical Committee, Mrs. Elaine Walker
Brown the Chairperson of the JFF Women’s Committee, and Assistant
Coach Xavier Gilbert. The stated policy from the CFU congress was
outlined as well as the implications for the local women’s
programme.
Members of the meeting were asked
to make recommendations of the coaches who they thought would fit
the programme and they all agreed.
It is subsequent to this meeting
that the Federation received Coach Blaine’s letter of resignation
via e-mail which was dated March 31, 2007.
Repeated attempts by the
President to have dialogue with Coach Blaine since receipt of the
resignation have not been responded to. The Federation will
continue to do all possible to further strengthen this very
important component of football in Jamaica.
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