Walker-Brown remains SCFA president

After a court injunction and a host of accusations in the bitter run-up to the elections, president of the St Catherine Football Association (SCFA), Elaine Walker-Brown, was returned for a second successive term, following yesterday’s polls at Cowan’s Ballroom on Old Harbour Road, Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Walker-Brown took 50 of the votes to challenger Jason McKay’s 33.

After a tumultuous campaign, the veteran administrators said she was always confident the delegates would speak in her favour despite McKay assuring that he had 75 per cent of the votes in the bag.

“I want to say many thanks to the affiliates of the St Catherine Football Association. They have spoken loud today (Sunday),” Walker-Brown stated.

“I knew that they knew what they wanted and they know what I come with. I want to thank all the support I have out there from corporate and the citizens of Jamaica, who didn’t have a vote but called based and what transpired in the media with my challenger.

“But it is all about football for St Catherine. We are going to climb to the next level and I am willing and ready to continue the job that I have been given and we can only be better from here on in the St Catherine Football Association,” the long-time football administrator noted.

Although pointing to breaches, McKay accepted defeat gracefully.

“The electorate has spoken and the incumbent has received the support of 60 per cent of the teams that voted,” he said.

“Although there were numerous breaches of the constitution … the reality is that she has received a mandate from the affiliates that they wish her administration to lead them.

“Democracy has spoken and must be respected in sport as it should be in government and I wish Mrs Walker-Brown and her team the best of luck in the future in relation to the management of the SCFA for the period 2024 to 2028,” he commended.

Meanwhile, Walker-Brown said her immediate plans are to get a lease for the Spanish Town Prison Oval, improve and enhance the parish’s youth programmes and continue developing clubs administratively and professionally.

“We want to try and get a lease agreement for the Spanish Town Prison Oval. If it is even a 50-year lease,” she noted.

“We are looking at the development of our youth programmes, and we also want to look at the administrative aspect of our clubs, our administrators and our secretaries. We want to ensure that the clubs are properly structured to take the football to the next level.”

Walker-Brown added that there is a lot of work to be done, but says she enjoys working with the clubs and improving football in St Catherine.

“There is a lot of work to be done but I enjoy what I do. I love what I do. I love the clubs. They understand me. They know it is a level playing field and what goes for one, goes for all. They believe in that and they see that is how I operate,” Walker-Brown stated.

“For the clubs that didn’t vote for me, it does not matter because it is still one level playing field. It is all about the football. Everyone has their democratic rights and they expressed theirs. But if you vote for me or if you did not, you are just as important, as everybody will be on one level playing field,” she added.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com