Tournament format for Bell-Ziadie Memorial

The annual Bell-Ziadie Memorial football matches is expected to undergo a change of format ahead of this year's 25th staging, which will see all six invited teams involved battling for the title of grand champion in a round-robin format.

The event, set for Heroes Day, October 17, traditionally pits the competition's invitational teams against each other in one-off contests, but this year a champion will be crowned.

The teams - Masters and Celebrities, St George's Invitational, Sponsors Invitational and Entertainers and Media Invitational - will play each other in half-an-hour games and an accumulation of points will be used to decide the competition's winner.

For the second year running, NCB Visa Classic will take up the role of title sponsors.

"NCB is pleased to support the celebration of the lives of Jackie Bell and Dennis Ziadie, former national players. We will continue to participate in these initiatives to foster the development of sports of all forms across the length and breadth of Jamaica," said NCB promotions officer, Joseph Montaque.

"The Bell-Ziadie Memorial football matches has given us the opportunity to once again display our support for football and charities that will benefit from the event," Montaque added.

Outreach

The major beneficiary of this year's competition will be the Weise Road Basic School, in accordance with the wishes of the late Barrington 'Cobra' Gaynor, whose daughter is a member of the institution.

Clive 'Busy' Campbell, who has played a major role in organising the competition since its inception, is determined to continue doing so in honour of his fallen comrades Bell and Ziadie. The former national coach and player, respectively, perished in a motor vehicle accident during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, after witnessing the Brazil vs France quarter-final in Guadalajara.

"This is the 25th year of this event that is held to celebrate the life of my heroes ... . As long as I am alive every year I will continue to help to celebrate the life of these two icons, Jackie Bell and Dennis Ziadie," Campbell said.

Campbell was encouraged by the presence of the Brazilian trio of Jamaica Football Federation technical director Walter Gama, national assistant coach Alfredo Montesso and coach of the men's Under-20 team, Luciano Gama, who are expected to be in attendance for the encounter.

According to Campbell, Bell, Ziadie and himself had always strived to achieve Brazilian principles in football.

Montesso, for his part, was pleased to be involved and paid tribute to both former national players.

"We've tried to get involved in all football events, it is something that brings everybody together. When you look at the legacy left by these two guys, Mr Ziadie and Mr Bell, it was very important for us to be involved, so it is a good thing."