MARCH 6, 2022 SECTION B www.jamaica-gleaner.com SPORTS The Sunday Gleaner Livingston Scott Gleaner Writer THE KINGSTON AND St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) will not be relaxing its demands for Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts to resign, and will be looking to take their letter to the next level if they do not get a timely response from the federation. KSAFA president, Wayne Shaw, said the JFF has acknowledged recieving a letter from his organisation demanding Rickett’s resignation. He said that the federation has promised them a response, however, if that response is not forthcoming this week, the KSAFA boss said the plan was to forward that letter to Concacaf, the regional governing body, and then to FIFA, the world governing body, if it became necessary. “They have acknowledged that they have received it and that they will respond to us. So I am waiting to hear from them. “Mr (Dwayne) Dillon [KSAFA general secretary] sent the letter on the 22nd [February] and they acknowledged that they received it three hours after they got it,” he said. According to Shaw, the JFF is aware of the timeline for a response as well. ESCALATION TO CONCACAF “They acknowledged that they will respond to us and we have given them a certain time. If they do not respond to us within that time, we will be sending off the letter to Concacaf and FIFA. “We will be pointing out all the issues and telling them that action needs to be taken for him [Ricketts] to resign, for obvious reasons,” said Shaw. At KSAFA’s annual general meeting (AGM) recently, Central Kingston Football Club president, Ansel Lee, passed a resolution for Ricketts to resign and called on other parish FAs to follow suit. He argued that Ricketts’ tenure was riddled with errors and the administration was now unable to attract sponsorship. He said football would not be able to move forward until there is a change in its leadership. Lee also said he was of the belief that the president’s fine in a defamation suit brought against him by football administrator, Ainsley Lowe, made him unfit to lead the federation as a result. “He (Ricketts) has to pay $9 million. That is not good for the reputation of the sport and it is not good for his reputation either,” said Lee in reference to the judgment. livingston.scott@ gleanerjm.com KSAFA determined to continue calls for JFF boss’ head RICKETTS GLADSTONE TAYLOR/MULTIMEDIA PHOTO EDITOR Jamaica’s Michail Antonio (right) battles Mexico’s Nestor Araujo for the ball in a World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium in St Andrew in January. NO EASE UP Daniel Wheeler Staff Reporter NATIONAL AND Manchester City player Khadija Shaw says the counsel of fellow City forward Raheem Sterling has made her a better player. Shaw, in her first season in England, was rewarded with silverware after Manchester City defeated Chelsea 3-1 in yesterday’s Continental Cup final at Cherry Red Records Stadium in London. City’s win ended Cheslea’s twoyear hold on the trophy. Samantha Kerr gave Chelsea the lead in the 34th minute but a brace from Caroline Weir in the 49th and 69th minutes, as well as a strike from Ellen White in the 58th minute, propelled Manchester City to their fourth title, one behind Arsenal for the most all-time. Shaw came on for White in the 88th minute to help close out the win, preventing her national teammate Chelsea Drew Spence from winning a third consecutive title. Shaw has scored four goals in their campaign putting her in a four-way tie for the tournament’s top scorer, which includes her club teammate Lauren Hemp, Tottenham Hotspur’s Angela Addison and Chelsea’s Pernille Harder. Shaw had previously spoken of Sterling’s influence on her decision to join City, and says he has been offering her advice on how to improve. In an interview with TheAthletic on Thursday, Shaw said Sterling emphasised being alert throughout the game and showed her how to help her team win in different ways. STAYING ACTIVE “He always talks about just staying active and staying in the game. It’s not always about scoring and assisting. You can also make an impact in terms of fighting to win a ball or slide-tackling, always staying active and reliable, and being there for your teammates,” Shaw said. Shaw said Sterling has been a source of encouragement for her in navigating the waters of English football and adapting to her new challenge. “I remember in the summer, I would message him and ask like ‘yo’, and we would joke around and stuff like that. Even on days football is not going the way I want it to, I always call him and ask him for advice, and ask him ‘What do you think? How can I improve?.’ He’s always there, always open to giving me advice and encouraging me,” Shaw said. While she has taken time to settle since signing for the club last summer, she has scored 10 goals in all competitions this season, including her most recent tally to help City advance to the sixth round of the Women’s FA Cup in a 4-1 win over rivals Manchester United. Chasing silverware has been one of the main reasons why she joined City and will have a chance at a possible domestic double. Manchester City will return to league play on March 13 when they face fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur, and Shaw will face national teammate, goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer. daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com Shaw grateful for Sterling mentorship SHAW STERLING SHAW
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