THE 2012 RSPL #1 DRAFT PICK IS ?

      

 Trevor "Jumpy" Harris (KC), 1965 #1

13.1.2012 – The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) semi-pro Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) plays a very pivotal role in the development of football in Jamaica, as it should, and in time, and with the right corporate structure, planning, and ideas, will develop into a fully-blown professional football league.

Barrington Gaynor (Camperdown), 1984 #1

A Jamaica pro league, with an attractive salary and benefits structure, would inevitably entice foreign players maybe from Brazil and Argentina, Europe, and most certainly from Asia and North America. And, with an influx of top players come the the international sports media, and, of course, the local and international marketing opportunities,

Allan "Skill" Cole (Vere Tech), 1968 #1

The international media, inevitably, brings with it attractive offers of broadcasting rights that will allow Jamaican football, and its offspring, the JFF, to become self sufficient for many decades to come. Then, and only then, will the question be asked, every four years, who and Jamaica from CONCACAF will qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals?

Altimont "Freddie" Butler (Dunoon Tech), 1986 #1

However, there seems to be an arbitrary and inequitable distribution and introduction of the "Rookies" into the RSPL which could easily be addressed and corrected by the implementation  of a well constructed Draft Lottery - similar to the draft system employed by the USA National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball, and Major League Soccer (MLS).

The 2010-11 DPL First Round Draft Pick Order

#

TEAM

PLAYER

POS

 SCHOOL

1

Reno

 Marvin Morgan M/F STGC

2

Benfica

      

3

Humble Lion

      

4

Sporting Central

      

5

Arnett Gardens

      

6

Portmore United

      
7 Village United      
8 Boys' Town      
9 St. Georges      
10 Waterhouse      
11 Tivoli Gardens      
12 Harbour View      

Presently, "Rookies" from the various age-group competitions Island wide, including the Manning Cup and DaCosta Cup, simply join the club of their choice, and invariably that choice will be one of the top clubs in the Island. This process is archaic, and does not serve the important needs of the development of football in Jamaica, or the League, although it does serve the interest of the choice clubs.

Herbert "Dago" Gordon (Vere Tech), 1969 #1

This inequitable distribution of young talent to the dominant clubs only ensure the continued dominance of the stronger clubs, while condemning the minnow-clubs to the annual specter of inevitable relegation from the RSPL.  

Ashani Walker (JC), 2010 #1

In the 1985 NBA Draft Lottery, a young Jamaican, Patrick Ewing of the Georgetown Hoyas, became an instant "Franchise Player" when he was the #1 Draft Pick, and taken by one of the most famous sports organization in the world, the New York Knicks. And, the rest, as they say, is history.

Douglas "Douggie" Bell (KC), 1975 #1

The introduction of a Draft Lottery in Jamaican football can and will generate the same fervor and excitement as the NBA Draft of 1985, and the most recent MLS draft, where Jamaican  Darren Mattocks was the #2 pick, and will also create similar economic and marketing opportunities for the players, the teams, and the respective Parish.

Lenny "Teacher" Hyde (Clarendon College), 1977 #1

Besides adding to his resume, the #1 Draft Pick will command an attractive price as determined by the economic market forces, and will forever change the pricing structure of local football. Of course, if the fortunate club is unable to afford the #1 Pick, then you simply trade him to a willing suitor for money and/or for future draft picks. 

Howard "Juicy" Bell (KC), 1970 #1

To be equitable, a RSPL Draft would see the two promoted teams at the helm of the draft, with the others in descending order. In short, if there was a Draft Lottery in 2010, Reno would get the #1 pick followed by Benfica and Humble Lion, while the DPL champions, Harbour View, would get the #12 pick with Tivoli Gardens #11. Rounds 2 and 3 of the Draft Lottery would all be random.  

Kendon Anderson (STGC), 2011 #1

Looking back at the rich history of Manning and DaCosta Cup football from 1943 through 2011, the speculations of who would have been the #1 Draft Lottery pick over those years are filled with delightful memories and nostalgia, and bring fourth the names of many Jamaican football legends and heroes of yesteryear. 

Peter "Jair" Cargill (Camperdown High), 1982 #1

Many argue that the most complete Jamaican schoolboy footballer of all time was Howard "Juicy" Bell of Kingston College who played any and every position imaginable. Some delightfully declare that Vere's Herbert "Dago" Gordon was the most flamboyant and skillful of them all, while the consensus concede that the "Mystro", Allan "Skill" Cole of Vere Tech, is the best Jamaican schoolboy football player of all time.

Selected #1 Draft Picks 1943-2011

YEAR PLAYER POS COLLEGE TEAM
2012 ? ? ? ?
2011 Kendon Anderson F/M STGC Cavalier
2010 Ashani Walker F/M JC ?
2009 Marvin Morgan F/M STGC Boys' Town
2007 Robert Palmer D JC Meadhaven
1998 Roen Nelson F Dunoon Hazard
1995 Kevin Wilson F Charlie Smith Arnett Gardens
1993 Walter Boyd F XLCR Swallowfield
1986 Freddy Butler M Dunoon Tech HVFC
1984 Barrington Gaynor D/M Camperdown HVFC
1982 Peter Cargill M Camperdown HVFC
1977 Lenny Hyde M Clarendon College Tivoli Gardens
1976 Dennis Hutchinson F Tivoli Gardens Tivoli Gardens
1975 Douglas Bell CD KC HVFC
1970 Howard Bell F/M/D KC Tivoli Gardens
1969 Herbert Gardon F Trench Town Boy's Town
1968 Allan Cole F Vere Tech Santos
1965 Trevor Harris F KC Santos
1964 Tony Keys F KC ?
1963 Allie McNab F Cornwall College Santos
1943 Lindy Delaphena F Monroe College Portsmouth

  -Bertram Scott-