western bureau

After several years of inactivity, the scenic Nature Village Farm Sports Complex in Lethe, St James, which was once a very popular venue for the hosting of both top-flight club and schoolboy football, is poised to host domestic football once again.

I recently received information from the St James Football Association (StJFA) that it is now fine-tuning plans to play the finals of the parish's Captain's Bakery Knock Out competition, which will feature a showdown between Cash Plus NPL outfit Seba United and Western Confederation champions Granville FC, at Nature Village.

all-time favourite

Despite being about 30 minutes from downtown Montego Bay by road, the Nature Village Farm has been one of my all-time favourite venues because of its natural beauty. While the winding road leading down to the venue is sometimes quite challenging, especially when it is heavily congested, the challenge is usually worth it, once you get to the venue.

To simply say that the Nature Village Farm is an excellent venue is an understatement because the truth is, it is fabulous. In addition to having one of the best playing surfaces in Jamaica, the venue is located in a valley surrounded by lush green mountains, which offers up many fabulous vantage points for spectators.

When the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) first announced plans to build an academy after being awarded a gold project by FIFA, I promptly wrote an article recommending Nature Village Farm as a likely location. In addition to its scenic beauty, the venue has cabins for accommodation, a jogging trail and the lovely Lethe River, which runs through the property.

most disappointed

I was, therefore, most disappointed when the then Captain Horace Burrell-led JFF administration pretty much slighted a recommendation for the use of Nature Village Farm and instead went and broke ground for the academy in Portmore, which, to my mind ,was a big mistake.

Based on my understanding of what the then JFF wanted out of the academy, inclusive of its training centre component, I believe that because of the great potential for distraction, the Kingston/Portmore belt was just not ideal, especially in terms of controlling players with a penchant for nightlife.

much wisdom

When Captain Burrell was voted out of office in 2003 and his successor Crenston Boxhill and his new team took the decision to switch the site of the academy to Malvern, in St Elizabeth, I was among those who applauded the decision. While Boxhill was not my favourite administrator, I saw much wisdom in what he did.

Now that Captain Burrell is back at the helm of the JFF, it would appear that he has returned to his original plans and as consequence, despite the fact that $35 million dollars has been spent at Malvern, the site has now been declared unsuitable and as a consequence, will be shelved as the site for the academy.

Needless to say, I am not supportive of the decision to move the academy and based on the less than convincing reasons being offered, I can't help but wonder whether or not this decision is one based on sound judgement or is merely a way of wiping the slate clean of Mr. Boxhill's legacy, which would be an amateurish posture at best.

Since Malvern has now been abandoned by the JFF and the plans for the academy is now back to square one, I am again suggesting that consideration be given to the Nature Village Farm. It has all the things that JFF said did not make Malvern suitable, inclusive of proximity to the Sangster International Airport, to a major commercial centre in Montego Bay and, of course enough water for a lifetime.

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adrianfrater@hotmail.com