'Busy' Campbell focused on giving back as Bell-Ziadie Memorial nears

Clive 'Busy' Campbell, organiser of the annual Bell-Ziadie Memorial football tournament, hopes to continue making a difference in an area he once called home, as the event, which sees all proceeds given to charity, prepares for a historic kick-off in a little over a month.

The memorial will celebrate its 25th anniversary held yearly in honour of late former national players and coaches Jackie Bell and Dennis Ziadie.

"Growing up in the area, there was no violence and we could walk the streets late at night. But things took a turn in the 1980s, some kids couldn't go to school and some always needed lunch money, bus fare, and all of that. That's when I decided that in anything I'm doing, I'm going to do it for the kids," said Campbell, who hails from Franklyn Town, not far from St George's College, the tournament's venue.

Duty to give back

Campbell noted that he makes it a point to give back to children through schools, since he wasn't afforded the opportunity to complete his high-school education. The nearby Weise Road Basic School has been specifically targeted this year.

The football matches, which will this time around aid in the development of several basic schools in downtown Kingston, will be held as usual at Winchester Park, St George's College, on Heroes Day, Monday, October 17.

In addition to providing entertainment to local football fans, the event will also honour outstanding persons who have made significant contributions to the development of the sport. This year, the matches switch to a round-robin format so all the teams will have a chance to play against each other. The competing teams are the Masters, Celebrities and Entertainers, the St George's Old Boys Invitational, the Sponsors team, and the Media.

Last year's Bell-Ziadie Memorial staging generated over $400,000 in sponsorship dollars under the management of Blueprint Consulting, the Kingston-based company contracted to plan the event and solicit sponsorship on its behalf. Blueprint Consulting's director Deane Shepherd was delighted to once again be associated with the event.

"The company is all about giving back to charity, and since sponsorship management is one of our key areas, that's the experience we lend to Masters and Celebrities to solicit funding."

So far, NCB has signed on again as the title sponsors. Other sponsors who were on board last year included Claro, Wray and Nephew, Wisynco, Jamaica National, and Voltaren.