Harris committed to youth, sport development
Published:Saturday | April 27, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Gareth Davis Sr, Gleaner Writer
PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
HAVING STARTED out as female footballer for Jamaica's national team, Sharon Harris has excelled in sports and today she is redirecting her efforts to assist the unattached youth in communities across Portland.
Now assigned as a sports officer in Portland with Insports, Harris is single-handedly spearheading an initiative to get young men and women involved in sporting activities - including football, netball, basketball, dominoes, and cricket - to showcase their talents.
"Currently, I am involved in the primary-school football competition. Forty teams are taking part in this league, which is sponsored by LIME and Insports," Harris disclosed. "In addition, a basic-school competition will begin in another two weeks, and this will attract 12 basic and infant schools in and around Port Antonio . I am the sole sponsor of the basic-school competition, which is my passion. I strongly believe that football should be played from the bottom to the top, and not the other way around," the sports officer reported.
Additionally, a community football league is to come on stream in May, which will seek to attract unattached youth who are not involved in the National Premier League, Division One, Major League, daCosta Cup, or any other ongoing football competition, Harris disclosed. She added that a netball league, a basketball league, along with a domino league, are also scheduled to begin later this year.
LONG AND DIFFICULT ROAD
But while Harris is now reaping the benefits, it has been a long and difficult road for her, which started in 1990 after watching a Premier League game between Reno FC and Arnett Gardens at the National Stadium. She recounted that a curtain-raiser between Boogie Girls, and Wildcats - two female teams - captured her attention.
"It was then that I decided that I wanted to play football. I was encouraged to return to Portland and to see how best I could lure other girls into playing the game," she recounted. "I was also told that efforts were being made to spread women's football islandwide. I managed to get together a group of girls, and despite our inexperience and the absence of a coach, we practised daily. During that period, I also did an advanced coaching course at the College of Arts, Science and Technology, which is now University of Technology," Harris related.
She attended the then Jamaica Coaching School, where she was certified. Harris went on to captain the national women's football team, where she toured several countries, including Canada. Harris recounted that the team did very well in World Cup Qualifiers, despite the many challenges which were compounded by a shortage of resources.
She was forced to retire in 1995 after suffering a broken foot in netball, but would later be assigned the post of assistant national coach of the women's football team, then coached by Neville Bell.
Today, Harris has directed all her energy into the development of football, netball, volleyball, dominoes, and track and field across the parish.
Said Harris: "Not all students will be successful in academics. It, therefore, means that sports can create an alternative for them to earn a meaningful income. I am urging the business community to see how best they can assist with these initiatives, so that the youngsters will be able to participate and exert their energy in a positive way. Already, we have engaged the business community and a business-house football competition will commence shortly."