Tivoli showers football team with praises

Nadisha Hunter, Staff Reporter

LIKE the sun fighting its way out from behind storm clouds, the Tivoli Gardens football team's dominance at the national level has returned hope to the west Kingston community.

The team captured its second trophy in seven days on Sunday when it won the all-island Flow Champions Cup knockout at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

One week earlier, the team was crowned Premier League champions.

"It will uplift the community because after all the bad things we went through, we are still showing others that we have good in us," Kemo Jahdean, student at Denham Town High School, told The Gleaner.

Tivoli Gardens and surrounding west Kingston communities were plunged into mourning and distress last May after a bloody military operation in that area of the city.

The security forces forcefully entered the barricaded community to execute a warrant of arrest on then fugitive Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, the reputed area don. The operation resulted in the death of more than 70 persons.

walking in the clouds

Nearly one year later, the scars of the Tivoli incursion linger, but the football team's dominance has left residents walking in the clouds.

Yesterday, the residents were singing the praises of the football team, which stood as standard-bearer for the community.

"Footballers, you did well. You changed the image persons have of us, because it is not where you live, but it is how you live, so cheers!" the student said.

"It is good to know that they won so many trophies. That is a good way to take your mind away a little from what happened in the community (incursion) because we have to celebrate with the footballers," Stalin Williams, the band instructor in the community, said.

He said the success of the football team is a signal of things to come from the community.

"There are a lot of football teams in the area - from the small ones to the adults - and as early as 5 a.m., you can see those little youths training. So it is a big boost for them, and I know they will do well, too," Williams added.

Jacob Miller, another community member, said it is time for persons to focus their attention on helping the team as it is the only good thing they have in the community.

"The man dem a gwaan good and we very proud of them. We know they would do good, and we know they will continue to make us proud," Miller said.