By Neto Baptiste
Sponsors of the Schools Football Competition, Cool & Smooth/Joma Caribbean, are hoping to grow the “All Star Team” initiative into a viable concept where those specially selected teams would go on to compete in matches at home and abroad.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium where the Ministry of Sports unveiled three All Star teams comprising players who would have excelled in their various divisions during this season’s competition, sponsor’s representative Dario Barthley revealed there are big plans in the making regarding future selections.
“We just found it important to ensure that we highlight the players that the name may not necessarily show up on the score sheet every week. The team may not necessarily be here in the finals which are going to be played at the end of this week, but they would have performed commendably throughout the season and they deserve that level of recognition,” he said.
“In terms of immediate plans, it’s just to highlight that, but we are engaged in discussions in regard to what happens with the All-Star team going forward and we don’t want to shy away from what we’re trying to do. We’d like for the All-Star team to become an actual team instead of just a sentimental team, which is why we’ve picked substitutes, we’ve picked coaches and managers, and hopefully they can not only play within the country, but they can get an opportunity to travel as well,” he added.
All Star teams were selected in the Under-20 Girls’ Division, the Under-20 Boys’ Division and in the Under-14 Boys’ Division.
Barthley said that, so far, the sponsors are very pleased with how things have progressed and reiterated their intentions to support all sporting disciplines and schools taking part in the various competitions.
“What I can say is that since we’ve started discussing, just upping the tempo and upping the offering in terms of school sports, there’s been a significant commitment from the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Education as well in supporting our efforts to put some of the things (in place) that we think should be in place. So, as we mentioned in the press conference, yes we will be sponsoring all uniforms for all sports, but we actually want to be heavily involved in the operations. We want to make sure that the sports are properly captured, properly represented, properly pushed even from a media perspective. So we want the school system to mirror what a semi-professional system would look like,” he said.
Full All Star Teams
Girls Under-20: Na’Jireh Wijnaldum (AGHS), Nafisa Quashie (AGHS), Deliah Gore (ASSS), Zakkiya Williams (CHSS), Aliah London (CHSS), Abigail Donalds (JSS), Latoya Williams (JSS), Lareka Kelly (OCS), Amira Lee (OCS), Karmiella Hughes (PMS), Iressia Allen (PMS), Rolesha Humphreys (PMS), J’Kayla Bellot (PMS), Kavite Cordice (PMS), Zahkiya Morgan (SMSS), Shanika Burton (SMSS). Nikisha Samuel of AGHS was selected as coach.
Boys Under-20: Joshua Roach (ABCAS), Javere Joseph (ABCAS), Dennison Steven (ABCAS), Ralique Browne (ABCAS), Chase Joseph (AGS), Adonijah Dyett (Harrison Centre), Jahkim Benjamin (OCS), Damarre Swift (OCS), Makhi Phillip (PMS), Hakeem Musah (PMS), Marlon Peters (PMS), Dahvia Hughes (PMS), Mario Lewis (PMS), Shumba Thomas (PMS), Jamil Thomas (SNRA), Nicholas Clarke (SNRA). Rolston Phoenix of PMS was selected as coach.
Boys Under-14: Aaron Alfred (AGS), T’Andre James (AGS), Tomarey Henry (AGS), Jonathan Dubbery (AGS), Adonis Colbourne (ASSS), Ashante Warner (ASSS), Shaquan Joseph (JSS), Calvin Kellman (JSS), Marcus Thomas (PMS), Jahquan Barthley (PMS), Allan Henry (PMS), Ethan Barton (PMS), Israel John (PSS), Jaariq Roberts (SJA), Jahvere Davis (SNRA), Kalique Martin (SNRA), — Derrick Edwards of AGS was selected as coach.
