The Boyz were eliminated from the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers after losing to Panama on Friday night.

Addressing a luncheon for the national team, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports this (Sunday) afternoon, Minister Grange told the Reggae Boyz:

"I know you are disappointed — we all are.  But this is when you need our support more than ever.  I hope you know you can always count on us."

The President of the Jamaica Football Federation, Captain Horace Burrell, had expressed concern that it would now be difficult to attract sponsorship because the Boyz are out of contention for the World Cup.  

Minister Grange assured the JFF that "as a government, we will continue our support in all the ways that we can."

According to the Minister, the monthly subvention (of J$3.5M) provided through the Sports Development Foundation to finance the JFF's development programmes will continue, adding that "if the pot and the kitty gets bigger we will consider an increase."

The Sports Minister also noted that the government's sponsorship of this season's national women's league (J$9M) was concrete demonstration of its support to the national football programme.

While pledging support to the Boyz, Minister Grange also urged them to use the disappointment of being eliminated from the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers as motivation to improve their performance.

Minister Grange said:

"It's precisely when people write you off or write us off that we must rise.  I want to say to the Reggae Boyz that even if you think people have written you off, this is when you must rise." 

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