JCSA holds off challenge to INSPORTS board
Tensions appeared to have calmed somewhat at the government-run sporting agency, the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS), after the Don Anderson-led board was reinstated, virtually en bloc, by the Office of the Prime Minister last month.This move, according to Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) vice -president, Robert Chung, has basically nullified their efforts to have the former board dissolved.However, all parties appear to be satisfied as according to Chung, administrative director Ian Andrews had his signing powers restored and, so far, the board has shown no malice towards him.”The board has been reinstated, and we never got a chance to respond to the reinstatement because we thought that with the elections, it would have been put off.They have made some changes, but the board has been reinstated, and Don Anderson is still the chairman of the board,” Chung told The Gleaner.”What we are not understanding is if this move means hostility to Mr Andrews has ceased. Since the new board has been appointed, there has been no hostility towards him, and we see us getting no mileage out of this by saying the board has been inappropriate, because there is a new board in place,” he explained.He noted that with the board’s reappointment, all their previous plans to have it dissolved have been shelved because there is no case against their operations. However, he said they will watch and see if tensions are still brewing.”If you understand what is happening here now, they have put us in a null position. We can’t complain about a board that is no longer there, and this new board has shown no hostility or done anything towards our member. But, we are waiting to see as, if anything should happen it will happen after election,” Chung pointed out.”But, as far as we know, that (signing power) has been returned, and we don’t think it has been disturbed now that the new board is in place. A few of them (board members) have been replaced, about three, but it’s a huge board, and I don’t know how much that will change what is happening. But Mr Andrews has no complaints.”So we no longer have a claim against the board because the board has changed, and the new board has not shown any hostility towards Mr Andrews.”
Rocked by the recent FIFA corruption scandal, regional football authority, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), will continue its push towards turning a new page with upcoming elections for a new president.Long-time Bermuda Football Association president Larry Mussenden is looking to be the man to lead the confederation into a new age of transparency, credibility and growth and has been taking this message across the region as he drums up support ahead of the May 12 presidential election.CONCACAF has long held significance in FIFA’s corridors of power, but as a wide-ranging investigation revealed, many within the organisation played major roles in under-the-table operations.The organisation’s last three presidents, Austin ‘Jack’ Warner, Jeffrey Webb and Alfredo Hawit, have all been indicted by the US Department of Justice. Webb has since pleaded guilty to racketeering, money laundering and racketeering charges.Mussenden, who distanced himself from the culture that clearly existed in the previous dispensation of regional football leadership, believes his experience in football administration, coupled with his base as a former Bermudian attorney general, would serve the region well.”I have been the president of the Bermuda Football Association for a number of years, so I have been around a number of years, and I have been encouraged by presidents of other countries, who have asked me to consider running,” he told The Sunday Gleaner.GREAT CONSIDERATION”I have given it great consideration, and I have seen how the previous presidents and general secretaries operate and I thought that with the right effort, the right support and with my background in legal affairs and football, that I could be an effective leader,” added Mussenden.”We took some serious damage, but from the bottom, there is only one way to go and that is up. CONCACAF has started the process with the reform package that we have been through over the past few months. We have been working on changes to our statutes to bring in greater checks and balances,” he said. “That is the first and early step in us working hard to demonstrate that CONCACAF can be one of the greatest confederations in FIFA, but also that we could be a credible organisation in the eyes of the people in our 41 countries.”Mussenden, an attorney-at- law, promises, if elected, to transform the organisation into an effectively run body with strong marketing, communications and tech-driven execution, while crucially committing to put into good use some US$10 million, which is being withheld as part of the ongoing corruption investigations.”Funds that have been seized and due to be returned … I understand that a significant amount of that will be due to CONCACAF as the victim and the money that comes back to CONCACAF, whatever it is, I think it should be used for development,” he said, before outlining his planned breakdown.”Thirty per cent should be used to develop various programmes, 20 per cent should be divided on a needs basis between the three unions, and the other 50 per cent should be divided equally among the 41 countries of CONCACAF because it should have been delivered to those countries in any event, and I will pledge to put this forward if elected,” noted Mussenden.COACHING EDUCATIONMussenden is also hoping to improve coaching education across the region and outlined plans to introduce a multi-tiered licensing system similar to that which exists at UEFA.He is also promising to work to ensure that the region continues to produce top-class referees and assistant referees, even as he underlined the need to pay close and immediate attention to bringing the confederation in line with best practices.The candidate says he has received encouraging reception from the various associations and believes he will get their support when voting begins.”I have had great encouragement from countries across the board and I feel very confident about the support … I have a good plan, I think I can get the respect of our member associations, I can get the respect of the people that we have to do business with and the region on a whole,” Mussenden noted.The CONCACAF presidential election will take place in Mexico City on May 12.
PUMA today announced it has signed an endorsement deal with Jamaican hurdler Kaliese Spencer. The 28 year-old 400m hurdles standout will join PUMA’s roster of athletes as they prepare for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Kaliese joins the Global Sport brand’s growing female portfolio that includes 2015 US NCAA 100m Champion, Jenna Prandini and Australian sprint hurdler, Michelle Jenneke. Kaliese has been at the top of the game for years, with an impressive and lengthy list of personal achievements. Her 400m hurdles career highlights include gold at the World Junior Championships in 2006 and fourth place at the 2012 Olympics Games in London six years later. As the fastest performer in the world coming out of 2014, Spencer is only getting started; and will push for gold this summer. Talking about the signing, Kaliese Spencer said, “I have known PUMA for many years throughout their partnership with the JAAA, I like them and their people; they are great support to have around, more like a family really! I am excited to be a part of PUMA as it increases its focus on women, and I hope that involving female athletes in the campaign will inspire young girls to hit the track. I look forward to doing great things with my new PUMA family.” Pascal Rolling, Head of Sports Marketing, Running at PUMA added, “Kaliese is another great addition to PUMA as she embodies the brand’s distinctive attitude, especially through her determination to succeed. She has been competing internationally for 10 years now and is at the top of her game. This combined with her likeable nature and personality make her a perfect fit for PUMA.”