THE GLEANER, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 B3 Powell ...digjamaica.com/app/webroot/files/Epoc...
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André Lowe Senior Staff Reporter R ETURNING MONTEGO Bay United Football Club (MBUFC) president, Orville Powell, has called for the resignation of Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) gen- eral manager, Andrew Price, for what he believes is a clear con- flict of interest, as the stand-off between several clubs and the league administrators took another turn. Powell’s MBUFC was expected yesterday to withdraw its threat of not playing any games in the competition until concerns about the governance, transparency and leadership of the Edward Seaga-led PLCA were addressed. However, hours before kick- off, they decided to honour the match against Reno FC, under instructions from Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) presi- dent, Captain Horace Burrell. Montego Bay United are one of three clubs that wrote to the JFF noting their displeasure with the PLCA’s stewardship of the island’s top football competition – citing breaches on the company’s Article of Incorporation, which listed Seaga as the sole director of the PLCA; and the absence of audited financial reports, among other issues. The other clubs that protested were Cavalier and Sporting Central Academy. Powell also dismissed sugges- tions from Seaga that his posi- tion is being influenced by efforts to reinstate the JFF as administrators of top flight foot- ball. “JFF? That is so far from the truth; Captain Burrell actually begged us to play because this has serious implications not just on the PLCA. In fact, I think Captain Burrell erred when he told us to play and took side with the majority without look- ing at the issues,” Powell said. “I resigned (as MBUFC presi- dent) because of this a couple months ago, because of these same concerns and frustrations. I couldn’t continue under this condition, but I was brought back because people felt things were getting worse and they needed me to come back,” Powell told The Gleaner. Price recently admitted on national television that he kept a resignation letter from Seaga away from other directors of the PLCA until he was able to per- suade the former prime minister to change his mind. “It’s a disgrace that he could come on national television and say that he put it in his pocket. It is wrong, it is wrong!” Powell exclaimed. “The chairman resigned and wrote a letter of resignation to the manager of the PLCA. The manager, who is being paid by me and the other clubs, puts it in his pocket and didn’t tell anyone about it. Is that operating cor- rectly?” he asked. “As a club, we are paying this man, who is a technical director of another club, out of our spon- sorship money, and he is work- ing for another club also. I see this as a conflict of interest, but the others in the group think it’s OK,” Powell added. It is reported that Burrell also suggested that Price resign his PLCA position, during a meet- ing last Friday between the PLCA and the Professional Football Association of Jamaica (PFAJ). Powell is also seeking answers around the PLCA’s legal standing, given the fact that none of the 12 PLCA direc- tors is listed on the Article of Incorporation. He told The Gleaner that after trying unsuccessfully to get copies of the PLCA’s registra- tion documentation, a group of clubs hired a lawyer and got copies of the Article of Registration from the Office of the Registrar of Companies. “We found out that really and truly we are just acting, but we are not directors of PLCA. We have no legal documents that state that we are,” Powell said. “Let us correct that before you tell me that I am a director of the PLCA and invite me to be a part of the AGM or anything like that because as it stands, based on the document that we just found out we are not.” He added: “On another note, do you expect us to come now and put our name on this docu- ment as directors of a company that we know nothing about ... we have not been getting any financial statement for the past seven years. “So if there is liability, we should just jump in and take it?”, he asked. “The financial statement – we just can’t get anything from them. The documentations and discussions with sponsors – we can’t get any information. “Wouldn’t it be prudent for us to understand what is happening financially before we move for- ward. That is all we are asking for,” added Powell. • www.jamaica-gleaner.com • gleanerjamaica • jamaicagleaner • SPORTS THE GLEANER, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 B3 POWELL Powell calls for PLCA changes PRICE SEAGA JFF distances itself from PLCA in-fighting André Lowe Senior Staff Reporter THE JAMAICA Football Federation (JFF) has strongly denied suggestions that it has played a part in the current impasse between several clubs and the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA). Arising from the disagree- ment, Montego Bay United, Sporting Central Academy and Cavalier all threatened to with- draw from the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) until issues surrounding the running of the league, as well as the corpo- rate governance of the PLCA, were dealt with. Sporting Central Academy and Cavalier both played on Sunday and Montego Bay United decided against sitting out yesterday’s game against Reno. However, the JFF has taken issue with comments made by PLCA chairman and former Prime Minister, Edward Seaga, which suggested that the island’s football regulators had an influ- ence on the positions taken by the three clubs. “Who is leading the initiative? I cannot say, but I know that there are certain clubs working for the JFF’s interest in trying to ambush the PLCA in order to get the members of the PLCA to support them,” Seaga said in a Sunday Gleaner interview, while noting that he believes the efforts surrounded the JFF regaining control of the Premier League. But the JFF blasted the state- ments and underscored its deter- mination to implement the fran- chise system and develop the professional properties of top flight domestic football. “For Mr Seaga to say that the JFF ‘interfered’ in the running of the league is unfortunate and uninformed. It is the duty of the JFF to address any issue or issues concerning football.,” the JFF said via a release. “The JFF is the governing body for all football in the island of Jamaica, including the national premier league, women’s foot- ball, schoolboy football, parish leagues, community football, grassroots football, corner league and street football. “It is absolutely not true to say that the JFF has interfered in the running of the League. In fact, the JFF has been criticised by many for too much of a hands- off approach as it allowed the PLCA and PFAJ to fulfil their mandate,” the release continued. “Whenever there are issues of concern that are brought to the attention of the JFF, it has a duty to seek to address same. No entity or individual can be allowed to make continuous negative state- ments despite efforts to bring resolution.” Addressing Seaga’s comments around the PLCA’s sponsorship- raising successes and comments made by a JFF official question- ing the organisation’s viability, the JFF release read: “The president of the JFF, Captain Horace Burrell, is on public record for recognising on numerous occasions the role of Mr Seaga in increasing the level of sponsorship of the league. “The remarks attributed to for- mer general secretary of the JFF regarding the sustainability of the league were sincere and justi- fied and were recently confirmed by Mr Seaga when he pulled Tivoli Gardens FC from the league at a time when Red Stripe had not yet publicly announced their full commitment to a new period of sponsorship. It is this reality that has led the JFF to seek a new course in the estab- lishment of a franchise system, to which it is fully committed,” the release noted. BURRELL Cilic wins US Open for first Slam title NEW YORK (AP): UNABLE TO play in the US Open a year ago because of a doping suspension, Marin Cilic is now the tour- nament’s champion. Croatia’s Cilic won his first Grand Slam title by beating Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 yes- terday at Flushing Meadows, using 17 aces – including four in one game – and the same powerful ground- strokes that helped him eliminate Roger Federer in the semi-finals. “This is (from) all the hard work in these last sev- eral years – and especially this last year,” Cilic said during the on-court ceremo- ny, when he kissed his silver trophy and collected a cheque for $3 million. The 14th-seeded Cilic prevented the 10th-seeded Nishikori from becoming the first man from Asia to win a major singles champi- onship. “Sorry I couldn’t get a trophy today,” Nishikori said, “but for sure, next time.” There hadn’t been a matchup between players making their Grand Slam final debuts at the US Open since 1997. Lopsided and lasting less than two hours, this hardly qualified as a classic. “Both of us were pretty nervous in the first set, espe- cially,” Cilic acknowledged. “When we got ourselves going, it was a bit better.”
Transcript of THE GLEANER, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 B3 Powell ...digjamaica.com/app/webroot/files/Epoc...
André LoweSenior Staff Reporter
RETURNING MONTEGOBay United Football Club(MBUFC) president,
Orville Powell, has called for theresignation of Premier LeagueClubs Association (PLCA) gen-eral manager, Andrew Price, forwhat he believes is a clear con-flict of interest, as the stand-offbetween several clubs and theleague administrators tookanother turn.
Powell’s MBUFC was expectedyesterday to withdraw its threatof not playing any games in thecompetition until concerns aboutthe governance, transparencyand leadership of the EdwardS e a g a - l e d P L C A w e r eaddressed.
However, hours before kick-off, they decided to honour thematch against Reno FC, underinstructions from JamaicaFootball Federation (JFF) presi-dent, Captain Horace Burrell.
Montego Bay United are oneof three clubs that wrote to theJFF noting their displeasure withthe PLCA’s stewardship of theisland’s top football competition– citing breaches on the company’sArticle of Incorporation, whichlisted Seaga as the sole directorof the PLCA; and the absence ofaudited financial reports, amongother issues.
The other clubs that protestedwere Cavalier and Sporting
Central Academy.Powell also dismissed sugges-
tions from Seaga that his posi-tion is being influenced byefforts to reinstate the JFF asadministrators of top flight foot-ball.
“JFF? That is so far from thetruth; Captain Burrell actuallybegged us to play because this
has serious implications not juston the PLCA. In fact, I thinkCaptain Burrell erred when hetold us to play and took sidewith the majority without look-ing at the issues,” Powell said.
“I resigned (as MBUFC presi-dent) because of this a couplemonths ago, because of thesesame concerns and frustrations. Icouldn’t continue under thiscondition, but I was broughtback because people felt thingswere getting worse and theyneeded me to come back,”Powell told The Gleaner.
Price recently admitted onnational television that he kept aresignation letter from Seagaaway from other directors of the
PLCA until he was able to per-suade the former prime ministerto change his mind.
“It’s a disgrace that he couldcome on national television andsay that he put it in his pocket. Itis wrong, it is wrong!” Powellexclaimed.
“The chairman resigned andwrote a letter of resignation tothe manager of the PLCA. Themanager, who is being paid byme and the other clubs, puts it inhis pocket and didn’t tell anyoneabout it. Is that operating cor-rectly?” he asked.
“As a club, we are paying thisman, who is a technical directorof another club, out of our spon-sorship money, and he is work-
ing for another club also. I seethis as a conflict of interest, butthe others in the group think it’sOK,” Powell added.
It is reported that Burrell alsosuggested that Price resign hisPLCA position, during a meet-ing last Friday between thePLCA and the ProfessionalFootball Association of Jamaica(PFAJ).
Powell is also seekinganswers around the PLCA’slegal standing, given the factthat none of the 12 PLCA direc-tors is listed on the Article ofIncorporation.
He told The Gleaner thatafter trying unsuccessfully to getcopies of the PLCA’s registra-tion documentation, a group ofclubs hired a lawyer and gotcopies of the Article ofRegistration from the Office ofthe Registrar of Companies.
“We found out that really andtruly we are just acting, but weare not directors of PLCA. Wehave no legal documents thatstate that we are,” Powell said.“Let us correct that before youtell me that I am a director of thePLCA and invite me to be a partof the AGM or anything like thatbecause as it stands, based onthe document that we just foundout we are not.”
He added: “On another note,do you expect us to come nowand put our name on this docu-ment as directors of a companythat we know nothing about ...we have not been getting anyfinancial statement for the pastseven years.
“So if there is liability, weshould just jump in and takeit?”, he asked.
“The financial statement – wejust can’t get anything fromthem. The documentations anddiscussions with sponsors – wecan’t get any information.
“Wouldn’t it be prudent for usto understand what is happeningfinancially before we move for-ward. That is all we are askingfor,” added Powell.
• www.jamaica-gleaner.com • gleanerjamaica • jamaicagleaner • SPORTSTHE GLEANER, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 B3
POWELL
Powell callsfor PLCAchanges
PRICE
SEAGA
JFF distances itself from PLCAin-fightingAndré LoweSenior Staff Reporter
THE JAMAICA FootballFederation (JFF) has stronglydenied suggestions that it hasplayed a part in the currentimpasse between several clubsand the Premier League ClubsAssociation (PLCA).
Arising from the disagree-ment, Montego Bay United,Sporting Central Academy andCavalier all threatened to with-draw from the Red StripePremier League (RSPL) untilissues surrounding the running ofthe league, as well as the corpo-rate governance of the PLCA,were dealt with.
Sporting Central Academy andCavalier both played on Sundayand Montego Bay United decidedagainst sitting out yesterday’sgame against Reno.
However, the JFF has takenissue with comments made byPLCA chairman and formerPrime Minister, Edward Seaga,which suggested that the island’sfootball regulators had an influ-ence on the positions taken bythe three clubs.
“Who is leading the initiative?I cannot say, but I know thatthere are certain clubs workingfor the JFF’s interest in trying toambush the PLCA in order to getthe members of the PLCA tosupport them,” Seaga said in aSunday Gleaner interview, whilenoting that he believes the effortssurrounded the JFF regainingcontrol of the Premier League.
But the JFF blasted the state-ments and underscored its deter-mination to implement the fran-chise system and develop theprofessional properties of topflight domestic football.
“For Mr Seaga to say that theJFF ‘interfered’ in the running ofthe league is unfortunate anduninformed. It is the duty of theJFF to address any issue orissues concerning football.,” theJFF said via a release.
“The JFF is the governingbody for all football in the islandof Jamaica, including the nationalpremier league, women’s foot-ball, schoolboy football, parishleagues, community football,
grassroots football, corner leagueand street football.
“It is absolutely not true to saythat the JFF has interfered in therunning of the League. In fact,the JFF has been criticised bymany for too much of a hands-off approach as it allowed thePLCA and PFAJ to fulfil theirmandate,” the release continued.
“Whenever there are issues ofconcern that are brought to theattention of the JFF, it has a dutyto seek to address same. No entityor individual can be allowed tomake continuous negative state-ments despite efforts to bringresolution.”
Addressing Seaga’s commentsaround the PLCA’s sponsorship-raising successes and commentsmade by a JFF official question-ing the organisation’s viability,the JFF release read:
“The president of the JFF,Captain Horace Burrell, is onpublic record for recognising onnumerous occasions the role ofMr Seaga in increasing the levelof sponsorship of the league.
“The remarks attributed to for-mer general secretary of the JFFregarding the sustainability ofthe league were sincere and justi-fied and were recently confirmedby Mr Seaga when he pulledTivoli Gardens FC from theleague at a time when Red Stripehad not yet publicly announcedtheir full commitment to a newperiod of sponsorship. It is thisreality that has led the JFF toseek a new course in the estab-lishment of a franchise system,to which it is fully committed,”the release noted.
BURRELL
Cilic winsUS Openfor firstSlam titleNEW YORK (AP):UNABLE TO play in theUS Open a year ago becauseof a doping suspension,Marin Cilic is now the tour-nament’s champion.
Croatia’s Cilic won hisfirst Grand Slam title bybeating Japan’s KeiNishikori 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 yes-terday at Flushing Meadows,using 17 aces – includingfour in one game – and thesame powerful ground-strokes that helped himeliminate Roger Federer inthe semi-finals.
“This is (from) all thehard work in these last sev-eral years – and especiallythis last year,” Cilic saidduring the on-court ceremo-ny, when he kissed his silvertrophy and collected acheque for $3 million.
The 14th-seeded Cilicprevented the 10th-seededNishikori from becomingthe first man from Asia towin a major singles champi-onship.
“Sorry I couldn’t get atrophy today,” Nishikorisaid, “but for sure, nexttime.”
There hadn’t been amatchup between playersmaking their Grand Slamfinal debuts at the US Opensince 1997. Lopsided andlasting less than two hours,this hardly qualified as aclassic.
“Both of us were prettynervous in the first set, espe-cially,” Cilic acknowledged.“When we got ourselvesgoing, it was a bit better.”
