An International Football Charity Match between Maltese Premier League team St Andrews FC, featuring a number of Jamaicans, and Waterhouse FC, has been planned for Sunday.

However, despite publicly announcing the proposed game at a press conference yesterday, the local governing body, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), is yet approve of the said game as the organisers have not formally filed the relevant application documentations for the game to be held on local soil, as per protocol.

The Jamaica Observer understands that at a minimum an invitation and acceptance letter from the clubs involved detailing the obligations and requirements of the parties concerned, plus a clearance from the Maltese Football Association for its club to travel are required to be filed with the host parish association, in this case Kingston and St Andrew Football Association, then to the JFF for authorisation to be granted.

The protocol is for the organisers to seek approval from the governing body before announcing details of games.

Organised by the management of the Premier League outfit Waterhouse FC and St Andrews FC’s President Craig Butler, the game is scheduled for Sunday at Waterhouse stadium in Drewsland.

President of Waterhouse FC, Donovan White, explained that they are currently taking the necessary steps to have their charity match formally sanctioned by JFF.

“We are hoping to complete all the information tomorrow (today); we are waiting on a piece of documentation from the Maltese FA which has been promised for very early tomorrow morning.

“Once we have that, KSAFA has already given us their indication of approval and from there the expectation is that JFF will sanction the game and then we are ready to go. All the other plans are in place,” White told journalists during a press conference at the Jamaica Pegasus yesterday.

Ironically, the JFF will be launching its welfare programme to assist former players, by way of a fund-raising football extravaganza at Drax Hall in St Ann on the same day.

White noted that both the International Charity Match and the JFF’s fund-raising football extravaganza would be a win-win for Jamaica’s football and its fans.

“We think it’s a great opportunity for football for there to be a national Under-23 team playing in Ocho Rios and a national premier league team playing an international team in Kingston on Sunday.

“So people on this side of the country get to go watch a good game and people on the northern side of the country can get to watch a good game on a holiday weekend. It doesn’t get any better than that,” he added.

Should they get the go ahead, the International Football Charity Match will take place at 7:30 pm preceded by an Under-17 contest between Waterhouse FC and Phoenix Academy — also headed by Butler — at 5:00 pm. Entry cost is $1,000.

Both Waterhouse FC and St Andrews FC have committed to donating part proceeds to the Jamaica Cancer Society.

“Myself and Craig [Butler] and Waterhouse Chairman Bruce Bicknell, we sat and we gave it real thought and we decided that part of the proceeds on Sunday would go to children with cancer and we will make that donation directly to the Jamaica Cancer Society.

“We believe that this is a disease that has has taken many lives and caused anguish to many families and we want to play our role in the fight against it. Craig himself has been diagnosed with cancer and (Waterhouse FC) Coach Marcel Gayle lost his father to cancer, so we feel that this is a platform that we can use for good and we want to take the opportunity to do that,” White shared.

According to White, the game is also being used to prepare Waterhouse for the resumption of the Red Stripe Premier League, as well as the upcoming Caribbean Football Union and Concacaf Club Championships next year, as well as to showcase local talent to European scouts.

Approximately nine Jamaican players — Kevaughn Atkinson, Martin Davis, Ricardo Martin, Kevyn McFarlane, Travis Blagrove, Kemar Reid, Marlon Reid, Chevaughn McLaren, and Kenny Jackson — who ply their trade for St Andrews FC, are expected to be on show along with Kyle Butler and Japanese-born player Katsuki Mizuguchi.

It has been speculated that Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey will be in the country, but it is certain whether he will take the field.

“Kyle will make a special appearance and there are some other players that Craig has in mind who we will ask to make a special appearance on Sunday. But Jamaicans would love to see some of the players that we haven’t seen locally take the field and give some minutes, so we get a chance to assess them as well,” White noted.

Butler welcomed the opportunity to showcase local talents to scouts, one of whom is Belgian Zouhair Essikal of Base Soccer.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to do this. I think that Jamaica needs this and it has been a long time coming. I have been doing it on my own a lot bringing the players up in Europe and now it is time to bring Europe to Jamaica.

“We have earned the right in Europe to say come and look at what we have and people who are in very high positions, big strong agencies like Base and Arena 11 are now coming to Jamaica as our guests to look at our players and that makes me very proud of our country,” Butler reasoned.

Meanwhile, Waterhouse FC’s Head Coach Marcel Gayle lent his voice to proceedings.

“It’s a big occasion for the club; it is the right direction and a great opportunity to not just showcase the talent of the youngsters, but also it is a charity event to give back and I want to use this opportunity to encourage everyone who want to give back to come out and support because football is going to be the winner at the end of the day,” Gayle noted.