 Football is still the topic on the Sports Magnet Zone, Conker Kaif women's gold cup qualifying resumes today and these are the fixtures. In League A Panama vs. Jamaica, in League B Dominica vs. Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname vs. Guyana and Martinique vs. Nicaragua and in League C Grenada will take on the US Virgin Islands. In League A Group B will have a new participant, Jamaica, having failed to get past Canada in their dual Olympic and gold cup automatic qualification tie in September. Join the party, let's see how that group has shaped up so far. Panama and Guatemala have met each other once already, they shared a win, 3 points apiece Jamaica will get their campaign going tonight. Rugger girls interim head coach Xavier Gilbert had this to say about the tough conditions caused by protests in Panama. I'm not sure if there are any students here, some of them would have played in Europe and in the Cali track in Latin America, so I'll assemble the best possible unit to go and represent Jamaica and hopefully they can get the job done. There's some level of unrest that's not so settled at the moment based on the current situation that's happening in Panama, it's out of our control and we'll remain focused and keep the ladies in good spirit so that it doesn't affect our performance later. We might have to move, I think we're going to move to another hotel which is closer to the airport, so when we finish the game we'll head to that hotel, so that will try and mitigate any challenge we'll have in Panama. Interim Rugger girls head coach Xavier Gilbert, so much to speak about when it comes to the Rugger girls these days and so we're pleased to be joined by the JFF General Secretary Dennis Chong, Dennis, it's a pleasure to have you back on the Sports Mag Zone, first of all, how are you doing? I'm good man, I'm good. Fantastic, what's the latest you can tell us as to what's happening in Panama? Yeah, well I spoke to them today and the coaching staff is feeling good, of course there's a protest happening there, I think it's dying down a little bit and there might be some opening up of the roads today but what they've been doing is trying to isolate the team from all that's happening, so you know they don't really let the team be aware of all that's happening there, you know, just keep them in high spirits, I don't know if you'd have seen a video that was released about their pre-activation, exercise, team looks in good spirits. I spoke to the HOD who's there also and the head of women's football who's representing the president there and they're all seeming good spirits, the girls we hear are feeling very excited, you know, very enthused about representing their country and they're going to give it their best, they had a small training session yesterday of about an hour and they worked on what tactics they need to use going into the game, of course Panama they know is always a tough opponent but you know the HOD when I was speaking to him he said, you know, he was pleasantly surprised that about the quality of the girls who are there because you know we do have some veterans, I mean Chinilu Asha for example you know she's doing very well up there right here and you know of course she has the experience, we have Melissa who's come from Charter and Athletic that just won the Champions Cup, here she's looking very good, the team is feeling very good so you know we're looking for a good showing from them, they are very driven to do the best that they can do given the opportunity that they have and cement themselves into the side so we expecting a good fighting performance from them, they know what needs to be done so you know we're hoping for the best with them and wishing them all the best. Yeah we'll definitely see how that goes and quickly from the GFF's standpoint there are no concerns around safety for the team given the protests in Panama. No and that was one of the things that I spoke to them about since yesterday I've been talking to them about, they said there is no concern really with safety, I think the greatest inconvenience was the fact that they had to move hotels you know and the one that they went to is a little distance from the field but they don't see it as a huge factor and of course they're trying to get us to a hotel that's closer to the airport and also the stadium so you know after the match they won't have that sort of the distance to travel but no concerns really about their safety. All right that sounds very good, let's discuss some other issues now Dennis, specifically to the dispute that has been happening between the reggae girls and the Jamaica Football Federation and that led to the World Cup players making themselves unavailable for the two Gold Cup qualifying matches, this Panama game the first of those two matches. What is the very latest on that issue? Have the girls been paid all that is owed to them at this stage? Well no the the primary amount that was owed is the difference between what we receive and what is to be received which is the percentage of that amount. Everything else has been paid up from last year because there's some money owed from last year, match fees, everything. Even the per diem for the Olympic qualifiers that were paid after was actually paid so the distributed amount really is the percentage on the prize money that we were we didn't receive the balance of it yet and we met with FIFA on Monday, FIFA did call us on Sunday reached up to us and say hey you know can we help so we said to them okay we know that there's a balance there for us and they agreed to just give us the proportion that is to be paid to the girls which we will be doing that as soon as we get the funds and then there will be a balance still left there for the JFF but we will wait on that until everything is sorted out. It's important for us to note that you know every you know the commitment that was made in February by the president that would pay everything every single cent that we've collected from FIFA has been paid over to the girls staff or used for the Olympic qualifiers and so you know everything was depleted from that so we were just not in a position to pay anymore because you talked about whether we would have received for our incentive about 1.2 something other that was paid out between all of them and then there would have been an additional amount of over 700,000 which was paid to us to be paid on to the girls for the 60,000 bonus net of the taxes that was paid in two days after receiving it so the only thing that's disputed right now is that amount and as soon as we get those funds. Yeah before you go any further Dennis I just want to have a complete understanding of what you're saying in the detailed release that the JFF sent out a couple days ago you referenced a 1.8 million dollar amount that you only got 1.2 million dollars off if I am correct 20 percent of that was to go to the reggae girls the reggae girls wanted 20 percent of the 1.8 and you are saying you had only collected 1.2 is it that FIFA has sent the remaining 600,000 and you know have a full 1.8 that you can pay the 20 percent on we haven't got the full amount yet what we're saying is that what when we met with them they said to us okay how much of that portion that's left is actually due to the girls and we said to them we told them what the amount was and they said okay they'll send that over to us in advance of finalizing all the integrity checks on the documentation so even after we get that amount there is still an amount that's going to be due to us but that is the amount for JFF and that is really the only amount that we retain because we would have paid everything else out. Has FIFA given a timeline as to when the JFF will get that amount so it can be settled with the girls? Yeah we're hoping that we will settle everything by Friday in fact what we've done we've done all the processing in terms of the banking information so the only thing we're waiting on is to get the funds in our account and then we just push the button and basically it will be done at that time so as soon as we get notification that is there which we're hoping that by tomorrow there we would just send an email off and say yes approved and then we'll pay the fact that the matter is that we just can't pay the amount up because you know it hasn't come we won't have it yet but as soon as we get to get paid we want to pay the money out you know it's not something that we want to retain. I hear people talking about you know JFF has kept the money in this environment after they remember what happened after they set that hero you know FIFA tightened up on everything all this documentation you know all that that serves no possibility of that happening and these are electronic funds you know this is not cash that's coming in. Yeah what has the communication with the girls been like in recent days because one of the complaints from the reggae girls is that they were they were not being communicated to in the most effective way by the Jamaica Football Federation? Well I don't I don't understand what they mean by effective ways because you know we would have communicated by through the manager and also through emails directly from me and also verbal communication was taken place but you know whatever that means you know I'm sure we can clarify that what I would say is that we have written to the girls and said to them that you know there's a grievance procedure under the contract to make sure that you know we all stick to it we just love us to all go through that grievance procedure and so we're awaiting the appointment of the representatives there was some communication which I suspect might be part of that procedure that stated three issues that they were having an issue with number one the payment which we just spoke about number two was the fact that they wanted to know before being available the names of the supporting staff and number three the travel which basically you know is outlined in the contract travel arrangements so we expect that by the time we clear those that payment that final payment once we get it and we're hoping to get it by tomorrow then you know it will take care of those three things because nothing else has been communicated to us. All right hold it right there Dennis we have to go to a break but we'll return with more on the sports mic zone we're speaking with the general secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation on some of the issues pertaining to the reggae girls and that led up to them making themselves unavailable for a conquer calf gold cup qualifying action that starts tonight we'll be back stay with us. Yeah back on the sports mic zone we're speaking with the GFF general secretary Dennis Chung we're speaking about some of the issues that led to the reggae girls making themselves unavailable for a conquer calf gold cup qualifying and based on what Mr Chung said in our first segment that hopefully by tomorrow once the remaining funds come from FIFA that the girls will be paid everything they are owed and that aspect of the dispute will be over and done with. Mr Chung you know the Jamaica Football Federation has taken a massive hit in this latest dispute with the reggae girls you will find very few individuals siding with the GFF based on what has happened in fact many individuals say that it is incompetence and inefficiency on the part of the GFF that led to this saga that led to this dispute what would Dennis Chung say? I don't think so I think it was the situation was clear I mean as I said we paid out everything the same that we had you know and and and and quite frankly I think that we're actually by doing so we're better off because it means that a lot of the debt from last year because a lot of this money was coming from last year it was just not possible I mean if I receive a dollar and I pay out a dollar you know there's just nothing else to pay out you know because we do have financial governance rules that we have to follow from FIFA also so the only alternative to us was to await the final amount that's coming in and and pay that out there's nothing else that we could have done so if that was the issue then you know there's really nothing else and no matter the staffing because that one came up in terms of the names you know it's I don't think that that should be a reason for unavailability you know not knowing the names of the staff let me ask you this question Dennis were the girls do you think the girls were premature in making themselves unavailable premature hasty well well it came to the back end so you know I don't know I don't know I don't they based on the reasons that were given you know I thought that those things could have been resolved especially the grievance procedures are followed and that's the important thing you know the contract does have a grievance procedure that is set out in it and I think that if we if that procedure was followed then I don't think that we would have had the issues that we have now and therefore that's very important you know and one of the reason one of the things why you know people ask you know why didn't the GFF speak about it before and you know from a professional point of view we couldn't because if we did we would have been in breach of the grievance procedure under the contract and therefore although we know that we would have taken a beating it just it just was not the ethical thing for us to do to actually speak about something knowing that there is a process in place that we should have followed you know and and therefore you know I mean it is what feels you know at this point you know now when when we saw that it was coming close we decided that we were going to ask coaching staff to select a team you know put a team together and you know we want to ensure anyway that we have a data bank of players going forward men and women you know that we can put on for various reasons so it is what it is and I don't want to go back and say well what if that hadn't happened and that hadn't happened it doesn't make any sense you know what we need to do is resolve the situation now you know the first step for me in resolving this is as I discussed you know to to get that payment it out you know because we want to pay we want to clear that that as I said you know we've paid up all the money over from last year you know since I've been here we've paid all the per diem each match yeah but Dennis what I'm getting right based on the use of the word and this tomb has been used in a lot of articles in the reggae girls letter the use of the word mistreatment and for me that's a very very strong tomb so sitting on in the position that I sit and of course reading all these letters listening to interviews from you from gff president from everybody it looks as if you know just paying off these fees may not be okay with the girls it's as if there are many other problems that they have with the gff administration yeah well that's the point you know I mean remember I'm not a minor reader if you write to me and said these are the three things yeah not going to read anything else because there's a procedure and the procedure first says write about the issues so if there are other issues we don't know about it because it's not written and the three things that were written were the three things that I spoke to about so you know I don't read minds okay and I'm surprised that some people who are supposed to be critical because of just you know running out for it like that you know we have to have a process you know it's like you I mean if you were at sports max and you you said to your your boss well listen I have a problem and therefore this is it you know do you operate like that or you have a someone that reports you and they say listen I have a problem you know and therefore that's it I don't have to tell you what the problem is but I just have a problem it's important for us to follow the process you know and that grievance procedure that's why we emphasize it so much in the contract we think it's important to follow because outside of those three things that were written to you know we really don't know what else is is me talked about right one of the topics also making the news and you know because of what we do we have to bring our viewers up to speed with everything was the appointment of Xavier Gilbert where the girls felt as if they only found out a week before the girl cup qualifiers you are the man sitting in the position so you know better than all of us and of course they felt as if you know they were not too pleased with the way in which the news were communicated to them even going so far to say they found out via social media message what about that hello yeah yeah I didn't hear that last one yeah what did you say I was talking about the communication issue that the girls have of course expressed with the gff saying that they even found out about the appointment of coach a week before the girl cup qualifiers and it came via social media message hello yeah I lost again I hear what he's saying um you know the truth is that we only found out that he was an interim head coach a week before also okay because remember before that we were looking at other options and um and we just decided that at that point that the best thing to do was to ask Xavier to act as as interim purpose so we found out then but the the point is that you know do you make yourself unavailable because of that you know is that our team is supposed to operate and and that's the question you need to ask yourself because I understand that but there was a process for that um and and that also as you said um was something that came out in social media we have to respond to what is written to us and understand that that is important you know as I said to someone in the media a few days ago when they say something there is no consequence when I say something there is a consequence and it could be a result in a legal consequence so I have to be careful about and the gff and the president has to be careful about what we respond to we can't just respond to our posts you know we can't just respond to social media we have to be very careful and professional in our response and and sometimes people are not going to like that but the fact of the matter is that we have that professional responsibility because we are responding on behalf of an organization you know we're not responding on behalf of a facebook profile you know on instagram okay then as you just use the word professional in your approach and how you organize yourself you would understand though that to the general football public professionalism is the last word that people attach to the performance of the jamaica football federation given given its history yeah yeah yeah but but but you know I mean the thing is lands um do you say that you are going to judge a current action based on an action that hadn't happened before well you know I I understand that but you know I I'm not going to do that I will respond but to put ourselves in the in the shoes of of the reggae girls prior to 2019 when they historically qualified for the world cup they went through a lot of issues with the administration I can't I can't act based on 2019 yes yeah but as far as the girls are as far as the girls are concerned it is continuing so they understand that yeah I understand that and therefore what needs to happen is that we need to outline the specific things I mean I was here in 2019 so I don't know but as far as the girls are concerned nothing has changed given what they are suggesting nothing has changed you talk about um breach of agreements and so on and a lot is being said about payments and so on because the girls would think that the jff has breached a lot of a lot of a lot of agreements tell me tell me what is it in 2019 versus what is it now what are the specific issues well they continue to have issues with the late payments of not only match fees but per diems and so on breaches I'm talking I'm talking I'm here breaches with regard to ground transportation and overseas traveler uh transportation equipment issues and a lot of breaches with the jff happening even now which had been happening a long time ago and and the girls believe that there's hardly any change based on what they're experiencing with the previous I started by telling you that we've paid all the per diems and we've paid all the per diems every match and I and I just listed other things so I'm suggesting that that per diems and match fees and payments is just part of the problem that the girls are having I just listed ground transportation um overseas travel uh issues equipment issues when they are training and preparing and so on and to the girls they feel as if this has been happening for years and it's still happening yeah but I I really don't think that those those things were issues they weren't no no but it may not feel that way to the jff but to the girls it does feel that way and therefore and therefore lands if that is a case isn't the proper thing to do to document those issues we got and we've got a letter with three issues I and I'm saying I can't speak to something that's not written to me yeah but I'm I'm told that um email messages have been sent to you and you haven't responded oh I'm not I'm not aware that I'm speaking about a specific procedure specific incident I forgot and let's let's deal with something even more directly no because there is obviously a conflict between the ambassador Silira Marley and the jff and who the regular girls respect that I don't know about that and I can't speak to that you know I'm not going to speak the things that are said by people I don't know about it I can't address those issues right I mean I don't know where you get those facts from let me put it let me put it a different way let me put it a different way then because I don't think it makes sense to skirt around the issues the girls have a lot of confidence in Silira Marley a lot of confidence in their coach um uh who whose contract was not renewed and from where they sit they will feel as if there are moves being made by the jamaica football federation to to get rid of the people that they have confidence and belief in and people and people and the and the people who have helped them to get where they are and they are seeing signs including the including the non-renewal of of donelson's contract so let me ask you a question yes let me ask you a question are those things that you know as a fact and were written to you as a fact no i'm what i'm stating here is a fact that donelson's contract has not been renewed and it is a fact it is a fact that the girls have confidence in donelson of course right so i'm saying to you are those you know as a fact that those are issues that are causing the problem now well i i think it appears that way to me yeah i can't say it's a fact i haven't spoken to the girls but i'm just saying that if i if i was in their position i would feel that way lands but that's what i'm saying i have to go based on what is written to me i can't speak like you when you speak it doesn't have a consequence when i speak it as a consequence when i act it as a consequence so i can't do that and that's the point i'm making right so if that is an issue sure i mean those are things that we can look at but i remember what i said to you is that we we have asked for the procedures to go through and and to resolve these things but i can't speak to something and i go with stop position yeah unless i'm sure because i mean i would i would be saying something that might not even be an issue yeah then it's we're fast running out of time um let me put put it a a different way what's the relationship like between sedella miley and the jamaica football federation as far as you know oh as far as i know i i don't think there's an issue i know the president has been speaking to her so i don't i don't i don't hear that there is any issue so you don't communicate with her directly and you have never had an issue with the communication between yourself as the jff jensek and sedella miley a well documented sponsor and and and main face of jamaica's women's football no i have not i i i i i don't have any any any much discussion it usually is a president who speaks to her has always been like that you know and i i speak with her occasionally but there's there's no change as far as i know so you know all the speculation that's out there you know i can't as i said when i speak or do things it has consequences yeah but i can't express an opinion just like that get your point denise the suspension of of the players um when will that the selection no the suspension of the selection yeah when no no as i said and i've always been saying what we said is we will suspend the selection process until we go through the brief and procedures according to contract because obviously there are some issues so let us go through the procedures as outlined in the contract right have a resolution and then you know i think there will be a much more sustainable solution but it makes no sense for us to try and cover it up and say oh well you know well this has been paid off now so there is no problem no let's go through the process yeah one quick one 10 seconds before we go what came first the girls making themselves unavailable or the gff um suspending the selection process i don't i don't want to get into that i really don't want to get into that one to balance it what the important thing is we are where we are now right and it really doesn't matter i think what came first the chicken are the egg right you have the chicken and the egg here right so you know we're gonna eat both of them right um the important thing for me is that we are here we are we want to resolve this situation but outline the process to resolve it and right now the focus for us as of today is really on the match that's happening the well-being of the senior woman in um in panama you know to get through that because of course the the the overall objective is the qualification to the work of and the match on something there which we're planning for and and as i said we want to have a resolution i don't know why so many people think that it is you know daggers drawn no we want to have a resolution yeah then it's for we're out of time we're out of time we really appreciate you having this conversation with us and i'm sure we'll be chatting again and all the very best going forward yeah man and so and cheer for the girls later in lancetika yeah i just want to wrap the segment by giving the updates on the other results um in some um countries that apparently haven't had the off-the-field issues that the jamaicans have uh grenade are defeating the u.s virgin islands four nil in their league c match and in league v dominican antique and barbuda in a nil old draw um surinam and gan at the moment are nil all after 31 minutes and of course we look forward to the panama jamaica game tonight and see what happens there in panama city yes break time stay with sportsmax on youtube and follow us on all social pages for updates news and entertainment