'Overwhelmed'- Lucky Digicel customer thrilled with prize trip to World Cup

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Pansy Hall could hardly contain her emotions when she was revealed as the winner of the Digicel 'Make the Team' promotion, at Monday's draw at the telecommunication giant's New Kingston office.

The Granville, St James native won for herself and her 20-year-old son, Dakarai Manning, an all-expense paid trip to the finals of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, which will begin in a few weeks time.

Hall was among six lucky Digicel customers who were randomly selected for a chance to watch the final match in the highly anticipated tournament, the highlight of a splendid package that is valued at over US$16,000 (J$1.4 million) and also includes accommodation, airfare and a safari trip.

The other contestants - Nigel Wishart, Pamela Morgan, Ann-Marie Miller (who was repre-senting her underage daughter Annalea), Basil Daley and politician Ernie Smith, all walked away with cash prizes of $100,000 and Blackberry 9700 smart phones.

Only regret

Hall's only regret is that her husband, Junior Manning, who passed away a couple months ago, was not alive to fulfill one of his lifelong dreams.

"I am overwhelmed, I just wish my husband was here so that both of us could go. But he passed on two months ago," shared Hall. "He wanted to go so badly and was planning on going but because his life was shortened ...

"But the experience of going to a new country and to take my son along with me is going to be very special for me, it's going to be great going all that way with my son," Hall added.

As it relates to who she is hoping to see in the final, Hall is going with her son's favourite team, France.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing players like (Franck) Ribery and (Thierry) Henry play, and I'm hoping that France goes to the final," said a smiling Manning.

" ... the experience of going to a new country and to take my son along with me is going to be very special for me ..."