Wendell Downswell

With less than a month to go before the start of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Mexico, national youth coach, Wendell Downswell, believes the young Reggae Boyz have not received the level of support they deserve.

He, however, reserved some praise for Digicel, which has committed sponsorship support to the tune of US$50,000, (J$4,300,000) which will go towards staging a seven-day camp in Mexico for the youngsters leading up to one of youth football's biggest tournament.

The camp, which will be based in Toluca, Mexico, will run from the June 7 to 14, during which time the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), with the assistance of the Mexican Federation, is hoping to secure two practice games.

"The challenge we are faced with is the whole area of sponsorship; these youngsters have made significant sacrifices to be here," Downswell said, while speaking at the official press conference to announce Digicel's sponsorship yesterday at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) headquarters.

"I think as a nation, separate and apart from Digicel and what they have done this morning in terms of sponsorship, we have short-changed these youngsters," he added.

critical of ministry

President of JFF, Captain Horace Burrell, was very critical of the sports ministry as he pointed out that there is still a shortfall of US$43,000 in funding the team needs for preparation and participation in the World Cup.

"I must again express the federation's profound disappointment with the lack of support from the ministry of sports towards these young Reggae Boyz," Burrell said. "I am personally very disappointed with the minister.

"In the past, through all previous qualifications, we received support from the ministers of sports, whoever was the minister of sports during those times. To date, we have not received a red cent towards preparations of these young Reggae Boyz, who did our country so proud when we qualified in Montego Bay in February," he added.

The Under-17 boys, who will depart the island on June 7 will all miss their final exams, as a result of the June 18 to July 10 tournament, but president of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), Walton Small, was quick to allay fears.

"ISSA and the JFF will be establishing an examination centre for all of the young men who will be missing their final-year exams, as they will be away representing the country," Small said.

"The examination will be overseen by ISSA and the JFF will house the young men," he added.

Jamaica have been drawn in Group B for the tournament alongside Argentina, France and Japan.