Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Captain Horace Burrell (left), president of the Jamaica Football Federation, in deep discussion with Jeffrey Webb, president of the Cayman Islands Football Association, at the National Stadium on Wednesday night. Webb said he was impressed with the national team's showing after their 2-0 beating of Guatemala. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

JAMAICA'S BID to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the development of national programmes is estimated to cost an already cash-strapped Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) just a shade under $1 billion over the next few years.

The estimate was put forward by Leighton McKnight, chairman of the JFF's financial committee, during a press conference at the organisation's head offices in New Kingston yesterday.

"We have some significant financial challenges. It is going to take quite a bit of money. I don't want to frighten anyone with figures but it has to be an all-inclusive project," McKnight said.

"We certainly have the talent, but talent alone cannot do it. We are going to need support from the Jamaican public, corporate Jamaica, everybody," he said.

Already used up

The JFF recently received a $35-million grant from the Jamaican government through the Sports Development Foundation, but that amount had already been used.

The money was used to offset the total amount owed to fired technical director Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic ($29.5 million), staff salaries and statutory payments, which amounted to 1.6 million along with expenses for the women's teams, which totalled nearly $800,000, and leaves the newly elected Captain Horace Burrell administration, which began with a deficit of more than $100 million, still heavily in debt.

"The injection from the Government was really highly appreciated and I would like to publicly express my heartfelt gratitude, but looking at some of the expenses we face, it is a drop in the bucket," Burrell said.

The organisation still owes the English Football Association about $22 million and the Government another $16 million in unpaid statutory deductions.

Profits from friendly

Despite the financial difficulties, the administration has been encouraged by its start which preliminary figures indicate was $11.3 million from the El Salvador friendly.

However, with expenses, which included airfare and hotel accommodation for both teams plus other expenses totalling in the region of $10 million, there was only a small surplus of $375,000. With the cost of hosting internationals on the rise, spectators could soon be asked to pay more as, according to the administration, current ticket prices are well below what is asked for on the international market.

"The Reggae Boyz is a brand which has got some serious injury in recent times but we have a strong team of doctors who, with the help of the public, our sponsors, the Government and private sector, have begun working to repair it," said Burrell.

Pay for flights

With the cancellation of the Air Jamaica to London route, the JFF has had to pay heavily to get the overseas-based players on flights to the island, according to Burrell, but the new board was seeking meetings with several airlines with a view to alleviate the situation.

The financial arm of the new administration is currently working on a detailed budget.