Horace Burrell

His name never appeared on Jamaica's player roster, but former army officer Horace Burrell was just as familiar to the public as their beloved Boyz.

He is popularly paralleled perhaps only by Rene Simoes, the spiritual Brazilian he had put in charge of the team. As president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Burrell piloted the nation's most popular sport through some heady times, not only qualifying the senior team to the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time, but also the Under-17s and Under-20s as well.

Whether snapping firmly at attention as the anthem was played at national games, reeling off the umpteenth reason why fans should support the team, hiring or firing staff, Burrell's persona was everywhere - television, newspapers, radio, the Internet. His face even decorated murals painted on the walls of Jamaica's streets.

For nearly a decade Burrell reigned supreme at the top of Jamaica's football hierarchy, orchestrating mounting pride and belief in a struggling Caribbean nation that crested on a bright November afternoon in 1997 when the Reggae Boyz finally booked their place in France. That set off wild celebrations nationwide and in the region, and prompted Jamaica's Prime Minister P.J. Patterson to declare a public holiday.

Burrell is now busily involved with several sporting organisations, already nailing down some prized posts. He is senior vice president of the 30-nation Caribbean Football Union (CFU), the sport's most powerful body in the region.

He also serves on the Disciplinary Committee of FIFA, world football's governing body, has been nominated for Executive Committee membership of CONCACAF, and is a vice-president of the Jamaica Olympic Association. In addition, Burrell was recently named to head the CFU's new marketing department.

This information was provided by the South African 2010 Local Organising Committee.

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