Davis urges youngsters to use education as safety net

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

Former Reggae Boy, Fabian 'Fabulous' Davis, is imploring the nation's young footballers to use education as a safety net as, according to him, should they fail to establish a career in the sport, they could always fall back on their academic accomplishments.

Speaking at Tuesday's launch of the 21st renewal of the St James/Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) Under-13 football competition at the Urban Development Corporation playing field in Montego Bay, Davis said an intelligent footballer is more likely to succeed than one who neglects education.

"Footballers need to have a good education because there is life after football," said Davis, who represented the national senior team 75 times. "You must have something to fall back on after football and a good education is something that can never decay."

He outlined what he considered five principles young footballers should embrace in their quest to become both good footballers and positive role models. The five principles outlined were: Staying focused, never give up, winning is not everything, do well in school, and enjoy yourself.

The competition, which is being contested by a record 30 teams - divided in five zones of six teams each - is sponsored to the tune of a record J$1.5 million, with the winning team taking home $26,000 and the VMBS Trophy. Second place will earn $21,000 and third place $15,000.

According to the competition's coordinator, Hopeton Gilchrist, because of the number of participating teams, the customary format has been changed to include a daCosta Cup-like inter-zone phase.

"At the completion of the preliminary round, three teams from each zone and the best fourth-place finisher overall will advance to the inter-zone round," said Gilchrist. "We will then go through a quarter-final and semi-final round to decide the finalists."

zones and teams

The 30 teams, according to their respective zones, are as follows: Zone A - Howard Cooke Primary, Green Pond Primary, Tower Hill All Age, Buckingham All-Age, Lethe All-Age and Supreme Preparatory. Zone B - Anchovy Primary, Mount Salem Primary, Flankers Primary, Saulters Hill All-Age, Salt Spring Primary and St James Preparatory. Zone C - Barracks Road Primary, Bogue Primary, Heinz Simonitsch, Albion Primary, Mount Alvernia Preparatory and John Rollins. Zone D - Chetwood Primary, Catherine Hall Primary, St Noel's Preparatory, Irwin Primary, Glendevon Primary and Vaughsfield Primary. Zone E - Barrett Town All-Age, Team Work, Corinaldi Primary, Roehampton Primary, Somerton Primary and Granville All-Age.

Internationally acclaimed sports personality, Steve Bucknor, who was given a special award by VMBS for his contribution to football in St James, also joined Davis in imploring the young footballers to seek to acquit themselves academically.

"Presently, there are many scholarships on offer for young footballers, but many of the current players are not equipped to take them up," said Bucknor. "If you pay attention to your academics you will be able to get these scholarships."

In expressing her company's long-term commitment to youth football in St James, VMBS director Jeanne Robinson-Foster said they remain firmly committed to both community development and nation building.