PRESIDENT of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Captain Horace Burrell yesterday announced that construction of dormitories at the JFF Training Centre located at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, will be undertaken in short order as an extension of the FIFA Goal Project.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the JMMB/JFF/UTech Advanced Level Two FIFA/JFF coaching course at the JFF Training Centre, Captain Burrell noted that the Training Centre will be complemented by the living quarters.

“The development officer for the Caribbean will be coming later this week to deal with the commencement of the building of the dormitories which will be a living accommodation,” he said.

The Centre of Excellence was launched in 2010 by FIFA President Joseph ‘Sepp’ Blatter as part of the FIFA Goal Project and will see the dormitories enhancing an administrative building containing both offices and classrooms as well as two full-sized football fields.

Captain Burrell added that they will also be launching a women’s football competition in June as a means of giving the ladies more recognition.

“CONCACAF has recognised the need to spend more time on women’s football. Canada and the United States have spent a lot of time and resources on women’s football, so we need to follow suit.”

Additionally, he encouraged those participating in the coaches’ training course to stay focused as this is the key for them to get to the next level.

“Make sure to give it your best shot because if you don’t pass this course, then you can’t move on to the next level,” he explained.

In congratulating Kadeesh Fishley and Toni Cowan — the two female participants — Captain Burrell extended recognition to Cedella Marley, who has played a leading role as a football ambassador for women, having succeeded in all her initiatives.

He also reiterated that in the next few weeks the senior Reggae Boyz team will be playing three friendly internationals, with the first being in New York against Serbia on May 26. They will then travel to Europe to tackle Switzerland in Lausanne on May 30, before opposing 1998 World Cup champions France in Lille on June 8.

All games have so far been sold out, according to Captain Burrell, and arrangements have already been made to broadcast the games live in Jamaica.