JOA to the rescue

Samuda: Muscat, Oman is not only a destination but destiny

With the Jamaica Hockey Federation’s (JHF) hopes of competing in its first-ever International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey5s World Cup dwindling, the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) has come to the rescue with much-needed financial support.

This meant that the JHF would not be able to fully finance the trip to Oman, and Jamaica could miss out on its historic maiden campaign.

That was until the JOA stepped in and agreed to finance the cash flow shortfall.

Christopher Samuda, president of the JOA, said that it is important for the team to be among the numbers counted at the World Cup.

“Muscat, Oman is not only a destination but destiny,” he said in a release from the JHF yesterday. “The aspirations of our sportsmen and women must never be dampened and, as the apex body, we are committed, where possible, to hydrate their thirst and passion in representing their country as loyal sporting citizens,”

FINANCIAL WOES

JOA General Secretary Ryan Foster explained that the association had been made aware of the financial woes of the JHF and been kept abreast as the story developed.

Foster said that, when it became apparent that the team would not be able to make the trip, the association felt it was important for them to step in and ensure the team would be able to compete on the world’s stage.

“The JHF is one of the greatest beneficiaries of our sport for all mission. We have been following the news and saw that the JHF participation would have been at risk without an intervention. Our athletes are the focal point of our goals, and they deserve to be on the world stage. The JOA had to step in to make this dream a reality.”

Fabian Stewart, president of the JHF, thanked the JOA and Samuda for their financial support, as well as the other entities who had helped the team on their journey to the World Cup.

“While I thank all the stakeholders that have supported the JHF on the journey to the World Cup in Oman, including the Minister of Sport and various private individuals and entities, my gratitude to the direction and support of the JOA, as well as my belief in president Samuda’s stewardship of the organisation to ensure global success of all sports (large or small), has only deepened based on this critical financial support,” Stewart said.

The team which is scheduled to leave the island on January 22, is drawn in Pool B along with India, Egypt and Switzerland, and is set to play their first match against Egypt on January 28.

The JHF had been faced with the daunting prospect of being unable to compete in the 2023 FIH Hockey5s World Cup after being told that some of their budgeted funds, amounting to $2 million, committed by the Ministry of Sport, could not be paid until after the World Cup.