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In 2024, Cavalier Soccer Club’s technical director Rudolph Speid led the club to not only national but also regional success, winning both the Jamaica Premier League and Concacaf Caribbean Club championship titles.
The veteran football statesman, who has also been critical in the restructuring of the local governing body, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), was recently honoured by the Kingston and St Andrew Business House Football Association (KSABHFA) with the Abe Alexander Award for outstanding service to football.
Speid, who has over 20 years experience in football coaching and administration, said it is pleasing to be recognised for his work in football, noting that he was especially proud of what he has accomplished over the last decade with Cavalier and the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).
“People have recognised the things that I’ve done the decade before but for the last decade they have been more impressed. A lot of people get recognised when they are dead, so it’s good to be recognised before,” he said.
“In the summer the Portland FA also gave me the Portland FA Platinum Award for distinguished service in football.
“So in the space of six months, as a result of my impact, people are starting to recognise my work, and most of it has been to the betterment of football overall,” he acknowledged.
A chartered accountant by profession, Speid established a long-playing stint in the KSAFA Business House competition, from 1983-2016, for The Gleaner Company, and this milestone has been significant in his development.
“A lot of people didn’t know I was playing business house for so long. I have the history of playing business house the longest and I would have played, coached and managed,” he pointed out.
“So I did contribute in business house itself and I eventually graduated nationally with Cavalier and now internationally with the Caribbean Cup and just generally what I have done for the nation in football,” he continued.
Speid won the Business House Division One title three times and the knockout competitions twice. His last title came as a player/coach in 2011, before he went on to coach National Commercial Bank in 2018-2019.
His other list of accomplishments include being the first A Licence coach in the Caribbean and a coach educator for the B Licence.
At Cavalier, he took over coaching duties in 2001 and lifted them from Syd Bartlett title, the (KSAFA) Super League (four times) and national playoffs twice.
He won the Jamaica Premier League with Cavalier in 2021 and again in 2024, and in 2023 they were runners-up in the JPL and Concacaf Caribbean Club championship. He also has over 30 youth titles, including internationals, to his name.
As an administrator, Speid’s impact has been far-reaching. He served as KSAFA president from 2014-2018 and Jamaica Volleyball Association president from 2014-2020.
Prior to his appointment as Chairman of the JFF’s Technical Committee, he also served as KSAFA Treasurer (2002-2008) and JFF Treasurer (2003-2006).
Also, he is currently a member of the JFF’s Finance Committee, the Caribbean Football Union Audit & Compliance Committee and the Professional Football Jamaica Limited chairman of the Finance committee.
“Mr Speid’s dedication, leadership and love for football have greatly enriched the Jamaican football community and truly deserving of this award,” said KSAFA Business House president, and former KSAFA president, Wayne Shaw.
CROWNING ACHIEVEMENTS
However, of his long list of accomplishments, Speid cherishes being the first Concacaf A Licence coach in the Caribbean and winning the Concacaf Caribbean Club championship above all.
“The two high points of my life that gave me satisfaction personally was when I was recognised as the first person in the Caribbean to finish the A licence. That was priceless, very satisfying,” he remarked.
“The second most pleasing was when we won the Caribbean Cup. Winning the Caribbean Cup also pushed our league ranking up and we are now the top league in the Caribbean,” he said. “Those are the two crowning moments that gave me that sense of accomplishment. The Premier League title is also up there but those two take the cake over everything else,” he stated.
He added that the next step is to complete his Pro Licence and some youth development projects he has with the federation.
“I really want to finish what I have started in the JFF. Personally, I want to get my Pro Licence and I will be looking to start that next year,” Speid stated.
“I want to finish something regarding the developmental programmes with the JFF with the grassroots and elite youths. That is where my focus is now.”
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