Cedella Marley resigns as Global Ambassador for Reggae Girlz
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Months after being lauded by players as the Reggae Girlz’ ‘fairy godmother,’ Cedella Marley has resigned from her role as Global Ambassador for Jamaica’s national female football team effective immediately.
The announcement was made via a release on Thursday.
In the statement, Marley cited the current state of affairs involving the team and the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) as reasons behind her departure. She said she believes the federation is “neither receptive nor interested” in her “current manner of support.”
She expressed that after sharing a mutual vision with Captain Horace Burrell, she joined the team with an understanding that she would bring “help and support.” She further expressed that since coming to that understanding, the Bob and Rita Marley Foundations alongside a host of partners have invested some US $2.7 million into the growth and development of the women’s football team.
“We have worked diligently with the federation to build a solid women’s programme. The results of this work speak for themselves as the Reggae Girlz have gone on to literally make history – not once, not twice but repeatedly,” a part of her statement read.
Marley then went on to express disappointment with how things have unfolded with the team in recent times. She expressed that especially after the Girlz’ historic run at the Women’s World Cup, she believed all parties would be working together for the benefit of the team but shared that the “ever-widening rift between the JFF and the team is very alarming.”
She went on to state that numerous tries to assist in resolving the issues between the team and the federation proved futile.
Marley then expressed that despite her resignation, she will continue to support the Reggae Girlz’ journey via the Football is Freedom initiative.