Citing a rift between the Reggae Gyrlz, — Jamaica’s national women’s football team and their handlers, the Jamaica Football Federation — Cedella Marley resigned her position as Global Ambassador to represent the island’s signature sports team.
“The current state of affairs leads me to conclude that the federation is neither receptive to nor interested in my current manner of support. Therefore, I am tendering my resignation as Global Ambassador, effective immediately.” Marley penned in a letter.
The philanthropic international advocate for the island’s many sports, fashion, film, music, literary and tourism initiatives dispatched notification to the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) last week.
The first-born daughter to Bob and Rita Marley and former background singer of her brothers’-led Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers expressed dismay saying she was disappointed “with the turn things have taken in recent months.”
She also stated “the ever-widening rift between the JFF and the team is very alarming.”
In bolstering her claim of apathy Marley added “numerous overtures to each of you to voice my concern and try to assist with a resolution continue to be met with a non-committal, generic response.”
Her decision came after a decade of loyal support and public advocacy for an underdog team that blazed to back-to-back qualifications in the CONCACAF World Cup championship competitions.
“When I accepted the role, I pledged that I would “bring help, I will bring support; I will bring funds, and I will do all within my power to make sure that our senior Reggae Girlz get what is possible for the campaign to the 2015 World Cup in Canada.”
Undeniably, when Marley accepted the role public support and international notice of the Caribbean women’s team skyrocketed resulting with renewed interest for the underdog team.
In retrospect she said, she might have been in a state of delusion assuming an “impression that we all were committed to working together to build on success’ the team garnered by qualifying for World Cup competition.
“Reggae Girlz have gone on to literally make history — not once, not twice, but repeatedly,” she punctuated.
As a matter of fact, the CEO of Tuff Gong International added “since 2014, the joint support of the Bob and Rita Marley Foundations, along with a list of great partners, has allowed for us to invest more than US$2.75 million dollars in the growth and development of Jamaican women’s football. We have worked diligently with the federation to build a solid women’s program.”
Marley stated despite her withdrawal from the position she helmed for 10 years, she would continue to support the development of Jamaican women’s football.
Marley’s name has been associated with other sports initiatives including her fashion forward outfitting of Jamaica’s Olympic team in 2012 which added style and national pride to uniforms worn by athletes representing the island.
In addition, injection of her family’s name and brand boosted endorsement of her Catch A Fire clothing collection which attracted attention from celebrities who sported the designs.
“That being said, I must express my disappointment and growing concern with the turn things have taken in recent months.”
She signed the letter “Sincerely.”
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