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Scotiabank Next Play winners collect gear, refurbished field

Published:Wednesday | December 30, 2020 | 12:13 AM
Craig Richards (left), Scotiabank May Pen branch manager, examines some of the items provided for the May Pen Primary School sports department from the funds won in the 2019 Concacaf Scotiabank Next Play football tournament. With him are principal, Major P
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Craig Richards (left), Scotiabank May Pen branch manager, examines some of the items provided for the May Pen Primary School sports department from the funds won in the 2019 Concacaf Scotiabank Next Play football tournament. With him are principal, Major Paul Scott (right), and a student of the school.

While great focus is now being placed on the reopening of schools shuttered by the COVID-19 virus, students and coaching staff of the May Pen Primary School football programme are also celebrating the fruition of their winnings in the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf Next Play tournament – which they hope will bolster their sporting endeavours when schools reopen.

On December 18, the school was officially presented with over $2.2 million in sporting goods and field rehabilitation work for the school, which now serves over 2,100 students. The funds garnered from the competition prize was used to purchase footballs, hydration and coaching equipment, as well as gear for the students. Once the school reopens, the players will also benefit from a newly fenced and replanted football pitch for training sessions.

“We say thanks once more to Scotiabank for supporting youth football and for providing this prize,” said principal, Major Paul Scott, who also expressed excitement and high anticipation for the future expansion of its sporting programme, which has won them numerous accolades.

Craig Richards, manager, Scotiabank May Pen branch, who made the presentation, also expressed excitement about the impact that the items and refreshed field development will have.

“Scotiabank has had a long history of involvement in both sports and youth development programmes in Jamaica. This donation makes us very proud, particularly because we believe this will also inspire more children to engage in the sport, and the physical improvements at the school also augur well for the entire community,” Richards said.

The Scotiabank Concacaf Next Play Cup is a primary-school initiative, which uses football as a vehicle to make a positive impact on children’s lives in The Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. It aims not only to expose the boys and girls to the game, but targets the wholesome development of the children through the primary school system in the participating countries.