Dear Editor,
It has long been argued that anything a man does, a woman can do it equally well. In sport, the same principle applies. The recent announcement that three Jamaican female referees, namely the veteran Cardella Samuels, the industrious Stacey-Ann Greyson, and the princess of St Elizabeth Princess Brown, were selected to officiate in the same international football tournament — 2014 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Costa Rica — has had tongues wagging all for the right reasons.
It is undeniable that this revelation has continued the legacy of pioneering Jamaican sporting personalities who have left indelible marks in their various disciplines. From the Reggae Boyz' historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup in France '98, to our trailblazing athletics exploits at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, our sporting stars have stood atop many award stands.
Now the stage is set for yet another historic Jamaican moment, however this time the microscope is not on the players but on the officials. This is unprecedented in the Jamaican football landscape as this is the first time that all of three referees have been selected (male or female) for a major world tournament. This is a clear indication that the hard work done by referees has not gone unnoticed. To have all of three female referees from this our small island in the sun speaks volumes of our local referees and instructors, who, despite many challenges, continue to raise the standards and strive for success.
This is undoubtedly a step in the right direction for our local officials. I sincerely hope that this can be the catalyst for opening doors of opportunity for other local referees (male and female) who possess the prerequisites and are desirous of showcasing their abilities on the international scene.
I am extremely elated for the three women on their significant milestone. Even though Jamaica will not be among the 16 competing nations at the World Cup, there will be more than enough black green and gold to warm our hearts here at home. If dreams were made to come true, then my dream (as a referee) is to see all three women officiating in the championship game in the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica (San Jose) on Friday, April 4. Can you imagine what a day of rejoicing that would be?
Let us give them our unwavering support and hope that they will, through their hard work, confidence and will to succeed, be able to represent themselves with pride and make the local and international football fraternity see the true collective strength and quality that Jamaican female referees have to offer...to di world!
Andre R Smith
St Mary
ceoandre@aol.com
Jamaican female referees to di World...Cup!!
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It has long been argued that anything a man does, a woman can do it equally well. In sport, the same principle applies. The recent announcement that three Jamaican female referees, namely the veteran Cardella Samuels, the industrious Stacey-Ann Greyson, and the princess of St Elizabeth Princess Brown, were selected to officiate in the same international football tournament — 2014 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Costa Rica — has had tongues wagging all for the right reasons.
It is undeniable that this revelation has continued the legacy of pioneering Jamaican sporting personalities who have left indelible marks in their various disciplines. From the Reggae Boyz' historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup in France '98, to our trailblazing athletics exploits at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, our sporting stars have stood atop many award stands.
Now the stage is set for yet another historic Jamaican moment, however this time the microscope is not on the players but on the officials. This is unprecedented in the Jamaican football landscape as this is the first time that all of three referees have been selected (male or female) for a major world tournament. This is a clear indication that the hard work done by referees has not gone unnoticed. To have all of three female referees from this our small island in the sun speaks volumes of our local referees and instructors, who, despite many challenges, continue to raise the standards and strive for success.
This is undoubtedly a step in the right direction for our local officials. I sincerely hope that this can be the catalyst for opening doors of opportunity for other local referees (male and female) who possess the prerequisites and are desirous of showcasing their abilities on the international scene.
I am extremely elated for the three women on their significant milestone. Even though Jamaica will not be among the 16 competing nations at the World Cup, there will be more than enough black green and gold to warm our hearts here at home. If dreams were made to come true, then my dream (as a referee) is to see all three women officiating in the championship game in the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica (San Jose) on Friday, April 4. Can you imagine what a day of rejoicing that would be?
Let us give them our unwavering support and hope that they will, through their hard work, confidence and will to succeed, be able to represent themselves with pride and make the local and international football fraternity see the true collective strength and quality that Jamaican female referees have to offer...to di world!
Andre R Smith
St Mary
ceoandre@aol.com
Jamaican female referees to di World...Cup!!
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