Thu | Jan 2, 2025

Western Masters take to the field under rebrand

Published:Sunday | May 19, 2024 | 12:16 AMAshley Anguin - Gleaner Writer
Contributed From left: Brian Barrett, treasurer, Western Masters League (WML); Christopher Moore, Copperwood Masters manager; Philmont Thompson, president of the WML; Kemantha Service, supervisor at Time and Patience Bakery; Walton Shaw, executive member
Contributed
Contributed From left: Brian Barrett, treasurer, Western Masters League (WML); Christopher Moore, Copperwood Masters manager; Philmont Thompson, president of the WML; Kemantha Service, supervisor at Time and Patience Bakery; Walton Shaw, executive member of WML; and Ricardo Clark, executive member of WML.

WESTERN MASTERS Football Competition is set to kick off today at the UDC playfield in Montego Bay, St James, at 3:00 p.m.

The competition for football players 35 years old and over has been rebranded the Time & Patience Bakery Western Masters Football Competition.

Opening games will see Pitfour Masters go against newcomers Good Times Masters, followed by defending champions Advent Masters versus Seba Masters.

Philmore Thompson, president of the Western Masters Football Association, said he is expecting good performances.

“I expect the teams to put on a good performance. I know the spectators are coming because on the street, they keep asking me about it. We just want the teams to show up, have a good competitive game, and give the fans something to enjoy,” an optimistic Thompson said.

Football brought peace

Thompson sees more of the same for the duration of the season.

“Well, we have the league playing in different communities, so we want more interaction from players with each other. Last year, in communities like Granville, Mount Salem, and Pitfour, there were a lot of problems. The football, I was told, brought out the peace and something exciting for people from those communities to look forward to on a Sunday evening, so we are expecting that again this year,” Thompson told The Gleaner.

According to Thompson, four additional teams have joined the competition, making it 16 this year, and the league had to turn down others that wanted to participate.

The competition was first started in 1993 by legendary umpire and referee Steve Bucknor, Bryan Miller, and George Evans, former president of the St James Football Association.

Garrian Greenfield, head coach of Advent Masters, said that as defending champs, this season will be more difficult.

“As the defending champions, everyone will be coming after us, especially the team we will be playing against on Sunday. They know what we are capable of. We are now training. The team is ready and willing to go. We know what we are against so just have to do what we have to do and be victorious on Sunday,” Greenfield said.

In the meantime, Richard Blair, coach of Good Time Masters, said he is looking forward to increased professionalism from referees.

“I hope it runs smoothly and with no partiality because we are not playing for anything, just the respect and to build back the love in MoBay. We also expect to put up a good challenge, play some ball, and have a good game on Sunday,” Blair said.