Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) President Christopher Samuda has called on the people of Jamaica to rally around the Reggae Girlz and lend their support as they begin their quest for qualification to the Olympic Games.
The Reggae Girlz are slated to face regional powerhouse Canada in the first leg of the home-and-away tie inside Kingston’s National Stadium on Friday.
Samuda used the occasion of an Olympic Explosion press conference at the JOA’s Olympic Manor on Monday to solicit support for the team, while announcing a $25-million investment from his organization.
The Jamaica Football Federation will receive $15-million, while $10-million will go towards team incentives as well as qualification incentives.
The incentives will center around goals scored, assists made, clean sheets (playing games without conceding goals) and ultimately gaining qualification to next summer’s Olympic Games. The specific amount to each category was not disclosed.
Below is the full text of the JOA boss’ presentation.
Olympic Explosion
“The feet of history walk on solid ground and not on sinking sand.
“The feet of history create legacies for today’s generations and tomorrow’s who are cradled in the womb with unborn aspirations. The feet of our Reggae Girlz are destined to be imprinted in the earth of Paris and Jamaica, we must walk with them in establishing landmarks, indelible landmarks, on the continental soil of Europe.
“The Jamaica Olympic Association joins in partnership with President Michael Ricketts and the JFF (Jamaica Football Federation), the JOA joins in partnership with Cedella (Marley) and the Bob Marley Foundation in dreaming the possible, for our Girlz are ready. Ready to write and dramatize another chapter in the history of football. Ready to raise the curtain and give a command performance. Ready for the road, for destiny shall arrive on the 22nd (September) at the National Stadium.
“What the Reggae Girlz need from Jamaica is solidarity and love, sweet love and they want it in the National Stadium on the 22nd. Aint nothing going on but the rent, you’ve got to have a J O B if you want to be with me and our job is to be with them in the National Stadium.
“Jamaica pull up, rewind and get in line at the National Stadium. The business of sport is a job in respect of which we are given a line of credit to make meaningful and profitable lives being lived in sport and to earn dividends for sport and a nation. But in all cases of credit, there is payback time.
Calls for pilgrimage to National Stadium
“The Reggae Girlz have gifted us very creditable performances, have given us credit and now it is payback time, so on the 22nd bring your wallet, bring your purse, your safety deposit box and support the Girlz.
“There must be a pilgrimage to the National Stadium on the 22nd. The JOA continues to be driven to use sport in giving our sportsmen and women a sense of purpose and being. “Sport for All, All for Sport” continues to motivate us in affording all sport opportunities for growth and development for we have a business contract with our member associations and federations to fuel current hopes, to ignite tomorrow’s ambition, to inflame every aspirational talent in any and every sport to be and to become an Olympian not only in performance but, more importantly, in character.
“As the local apex governing body for Olympic sports, we also have a business contract with the people of Jamaica to build a nation in sport and among all of us, the Reggae Girlz and ourselves and you, there is a social contract to make legendary the contribution of the sport of football to the fabric, to the soul and to the spirit of Jamaica. Big ‘tings a gwaan’ at the JOA. Big ‘tings a gwaan’ at the JFF. Big ‘tings a gwaan’ at the Bob Marley Foundation and bigger ‘tings a go’ happen at the National Stadium.
“You therefore can’t miss the Olympic explosion, so Jamaica come on out on the 22nd and feel the electricity and vibes.”
 President Christopher Samuda has called on the people of Jamaica to rally around the Reggae Girlz){kind=link}