David ‘Wagga’ Hunt Football Classic returns with a “goodwill” game

The 12th annual David ‘Wagga’ Hunt (DWH) Football Classic will take place today at 4 p.m. with what promises to be an exciting match-up between defending Manning Cup and Olivier Shield Champions Kingston College (KC) and Calabar High School.

Dubbed a “goodwill game”, it’s the David ‘Wagga’ Hunt Scholarship Foundation’s way of reintroducing the Classic after the last two years of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and other restrictions. The game will be played at Calabar.

The Classic was established in 2009 in honour of the late David ‘Wagga’ Hunt, a KC alum. Hunt was a football coach who is credited with reviving the sport at Calabar, coaching them in 2005 to achieve their first Manning Cup title in 28 years. The team also copped the coveted Olivier Shield title that year. The Classic is seen as a unifying force, emblematic of the generosity of spirit and community that Hunt embodied. His dedication to working with youths is the driving force in the preservation of his legacy since his untimely passing in 2007. Hunt’s mantra for the KC/Calabar rivalry was, “We can be rivals not enemies.” The fierce rivalry of the schools will take a back seat to competitive fun and camaraderie today. Bragging rights are, however, still in effect.

The foundation offers scholarships to deserving students at KC and Calabar. “I am very proud of the work the DWH Foundation has done since inception, and I am eagerly looking forward to our abbreviated Classic, which will be our 12th staging,” said Christopher Hunt, the younger brother of David and co-chair of the Washington DC-based Foundation. He disclosed that for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year the Foundation will disburse scholarships to 24 recipients (12 KC and 12 Calabar), worth just over US$17,000 (J$2.4 million).

KEEPING MEMORY ALIVE

“I am very proud and appreciative that we are able to continue to keep David’s memory alive while impacting our boys from both schools,” he added.

Since 2009 the scholarship initiative has disbursed approximately US$5,000 (J$700,000) per selected student, from grades eight to 13, to defray costs of tuition, books, lunch, technology assistance, and other school-related expenses. To date, 35 scholarships exceeding US$115,000 (J$16 million) have been awarded. Recipients are chosen from nominees displaying commendable academic performance and attitude, who are involved in extracurricular activities, and are deemed in need of financial assistance.

Through the years, corporate donors based in Jamaica have supported the Foundation, including VM Group (onboard since DWH Foundation’s inception), Supreme Ventures Limited, Proven Wealth, and the Gibson McCook Relays. Overseas sponsors GraceKennedy Foods (USA), Steuart Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Spencer Financial, and McIntosh & Associates complete the complement of corporate donors. All fund the scholarships on an ongoing basis.

“I wish to express heartfelt gratitude to our corporate and individual sponsors for sticking with us throughout the COVID-19 pandemic despite the constraints,” said Arnold “Dullo” McDonald, co-chair of the Foundation’s Jamaica Chapter. “We thank our supporters and spectators of the annual football classic as well. The goodwill game is being presented as a show of appreciation. We hope they enjoy this in-person event.”