CAPTAIN Horace Burrell, as Jamaica Football Federation president, is one of the power brokers in Caribbean football and by extension, CONCACAF, yet the man is steering clear of the organisation’s top job.Burrell’s stance is understandable, bearing in mind the turmoil surrounding the post in recent times.
Two former presidents and an interim president have found themselves in hot water with United States police after allegations of significant corruption.
Caymanians Jeffrey Webb and Afredo Hawit, the most recent presidents are already before the courts in the United States, while Austin ‘Jack’ Warner, a former CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president, is fighting extradition in Trinidad and Tobago.
Burrell is part of CONCACAF’s interim committee, which will oversee the affairs of the organisation until elections are held at its next Congress.
The JFF president has found other reasons for saying he would not be up for the job, though, citing the challenges of heading two organisations.
“Right now, I am a vice-president of the organisation (CONCACAF), but to vie for the head would mean complete devotion, and with my federation, business and family, it would be very difficult,” Burrell told Jamaican news entity, The Gleaner.
Burrell, along with Justin Compean (Mexico), Sunil Gulati (USA), Pedro Chaluja (Panama), Luis Hernandez (Cuba), Victor Montagliani (Canada and Sonia Bien-Aime (turks & Caicos), has agreed to find ways of ensuring the episodes of the last few months are never repeated in CONCACAF.
“We have collectively decided to remain as one strong body, to operate as a unit until next May when the election is due. This was a unanimous decision and we have been pursuing a number of reforms to make the confederation emerge stronger,” said Burrell.The group, Burrell says, includes people who are interested in taking the top leadership role in CONCACAF, and believes they should be supported in those efforts.
The JFF president says he wants to spend time on his growing business, Captain’s Bakery, and family over the next few years, making it imperative that he steps back from some of the responsibilities he has to football. (Sportsmax.com)