Jamaica Soccer Facts
Jamaican soccer has often been overshadowed by the nation’s obsession with cricket. However, like many former British colonies, Jamaica can still lay claim to a long soccer tradition. In 2010, Jamaica is regarded as one of the stronger soccer-playing nations in the Caribbean, alongside Trinidad and Tobago.
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History
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According to the Jamaica Football Federation, soccer was introduced in Jamaica towards the end of the 19th century. Jamaica played its first international game in 1925 against another Caribbean team, Haiti. Over the next four decades, the national team played regular matches against other nearby nations, such as Cuba. A number of soccer clubs were established during this period, such as St. George’s F.C. and Kingston, which helped the sport to develop in Jamaica.
Governing Bodies
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Jamaican soccer is part of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, or CONCACAF. The Jamaican national team must qualify for the World Cup by playing against other national teams in the CONCACAF region, which includes the United States and Mexico. Jamaican clubs also play in regional club competitions organized by CONCACAF. The Jamaican Football Federation, or JFF, governs soccer within Jamaica.
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Leagues
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According to TheReggaeBoyz.com, 12 teams compete in the Jamaican National Premier League, the top division of Jamaican soccer. Notable Jamaican Premier League teams include Harbour View, Portmore United, Tivoli Gardens and Waterhouse F.C. The second level of Jamaican soccer is divided into four geographical regions. The winners of these regions then compete in a playoff, with the two winners gaining promotion to the Premier League. The bottom two Premier League teams are relegated to the second level.
Cup Competitions
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The top two teams in the Jamaican National Premier League qualify for the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship, a cup competition played between the top club sides from the Caribbean Islands. As of 2010, this cup has been won by a Jamaican team on three occasions--once by Portmore United F.C. in 2005 and twice by Harbour View F.C. in 2004 and 2007.
National Team
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As of 2010, the Jamaican national team, known as the Reggae Boyz, has qualified for the World Cup finals on one occasion. Jamaica's successful qualifying campaign took them to the 1998 World Cup in France. The team won only one of their games in France, a 2-1 victory against Japan, and failed to progress to the knockout stages. The team’s qualification is generally regarded as a great achievement in itself--according to TheReggaeBoyz.com, Jamaica was the first English-speaking Caribbean nation to qualify for the World Cup.
Star Players
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Ricardo Fuller and Ricardo Gardner are two of Jamaica’s most famous soccer players. In 2010, Ricardo Fuller plays in the English Premier League and has over 60 caps playing for the Jamaican national team. Ricardo Gardner is a Jamaican soccer legend. He has over 100 caps for the national team and has been a long-term first-team player for the Bolton Wanderers of the English Premier League. According to the Reggae Boyz Supporters Club website, when Gardner signed for Bolton in 1998, he became the first home-bred Jamaican to sign a professional contract with an English League club in over 50 years.
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References
- Photo Credit jamaica flag icon. (with clipping path) image by Andrey Zyk from Fotolia.com
