VPI joins ‘Bring back the Love after Labour’ game

Organisers of the 'Bring Back the Love After Labour football fiesta, which is scheduled for Constant Spring Complex this Monday (Labour Day), will team up with the Dr Elizabeth Ward-led Violence Prevention Alliance (VPI) - a non-government organisation based at the University of the West Indies (UWI) - to promote the message of love and togetherness, especially among our young men.

The organisation is celebrating 10 years and has been spreading its wings in the football fraternity, having worked with Premier League and Manning Cup teams in the past, Ward expects their affiliation with the Clive 'Busy' Campbell-organised initiative.

LIFE WITHOUT VIOLENCE

"We have been around 10 years and we have gathered data and the data told us every young boy wants to play football and if you want to have an influence on their behaviour support them and be there for them. So it's getting them to learn through football so that they can manage the game and life without violence," she told The Gleaner.

"The scheme of the whole thing with 'Bring Back the Love' is to show that we can handle differences between people," she told The Gleaner.

"This can make us live better together and less with the horrors of violence, which is so preventable, but it takes all of us together understanding," Dr. Ward further explained. "But this event brings celebrities together and if celebrities understand the issues and use it as a mechanism it can make the country more peaceful and much better."

She added: "We have seen if things like this are properly done it can have a tremendous impact as they are socially and culturally relevant. If we play our football games friendly and have a message to go with it then we will see a difference in the communities and the country."

The 'Bring Back the Love' fiesta is in its 20th year and takes place on Monday at Constant Spring, with the Entertainers Invitational down to take on a Sponsors' Invitational, starting at 5 p.m.

The game will feature local celebrities such as Aidonia, Chris Martin, Wayne Marshall Agent Sasco, Ricardo "Bibi' Gardner, Charley Blacks, Iba Mahr, Jermaine Mason, Nomadz, Ian Wilkinson, Ian McNaughton, Damion Gordon, Audley Boyd, Rudolph Speid, Hugh 'Bingy' Blair and Michael "Jah Mikes", among other former football stars and celebrities.