Teenage 'baller' wants to be a Reggae Girl

Kimberley Hamilton was the lone female at the FLOW Ultimate Experience football skills competition leg in Jamaica last weekend, and she has described it as being very "scary".

The Immaculate High schoolgirl defender was among 68 footballers that participated at the event held at Ballaz Park, Devon Road in St Andrew.

At the end of the over two-hour session the 14-year-old third-former was not selected as one of two winners to represent Jamaica in Trinidad and Tobago on May 7, but it was a valuable experience for her.

"It's scary being among so many boys, but I have three brothers who also play football and they were also there," she told The Gleaner.

She knew about the event because of her membership with Ballaz.

"I like playing among boys, so I am used to that. My ambition is to represent Jamaica at the junior and senior levels," she added.

Hamilton started playing football 10 years ago after being encouraged by her father, Paul Hamilton. She has represented Immaculate since first form, and this season helped her team to the ISSA schoolgirls' competition second round for the first time.

Immaculate were eliminated at that stage last week.

Hamilton's father says he is fully aware of the importance of having the right balance between education and sports.

"I encourage my kids to play sports because it helps you to be accepted. I try to instill in my kids to balance education and sports," Paul said.