Devon DickTHE SINGLE largest football league on the island celebrated its 20th anniversary on Saturday, with a colourful uniform parade and a well-organised and supported Five-A-Side competition. This league was started in 1983 with 17 teams and has grown to 30 teams. In fact, the league has been divided into zones St. Catherine , with six teams and a KSABA with 24 teams; 9 in Division 1 and 15 in Division 2. Church groups who participate in this league span 12 different denominations including Anglicans, Baptists, New Testament Church of God, Open Bible, and Gospel Assembly. This year the under-14 league has been revived as a counter to the growing delinquency among that age group.
This dynamic league is managed by Whole Life Ministries, a registered non-profit organisation, with Al Miller as the President and Percival Palmer as its Chief Operating Officer. Whole Life Ministries hosts also a Netball League and Boys' camp. The Boys' camp seeks to create an environment of discipline, caring and learning. It also seeks to develop in boys, good behavioural attitudes towards parents, teachers and other persons in authority. But its flagship event is the Football programme. And its inspirational leader is Al Miller, supported by other persons drawn from the Christian community.
Al Miller should not be seen as a new arrival in national activities. In 1996, as chaplain of the successful Reggae Boyz team, he recognised the importance of sports to lift national spirit, foster unity and rekindle the spirit of nationalism. His foray into representational politics and the formation of the JANU political party was just an extension of his ministry of wanting to see development and unity in the land. He has always been interested in the total development of the human being as demonstrated in the formation of the football league 20 years ago. Sports is a facilitator of character building, discipline, fellowship, physical exercise and social interaction. It is believed also that on the field of play the real person can be seen. There is a correlation between how one handles the various situations of life and how one will deal with the pressures and challenges of life.
The football league has achieved much in 20 years as it sought to influence the entire football scene. It has entered a team from the best in the league called Christian Ambassadors and in 1989 it won the prize for the most disciplined team while placing second in the Red Label City League. They also won the Tourers League in 1997. The team has also played other teams across the island gaining the respect of many communities with their discipline and skills. It is noticeable that, though the level of competitiveness is high, there is an absence of the usual cursing and outlandish behaviour that is so associated with football locally and in England. They also had a match against the vaunted Reggae Boyz.
Over the 20 years, and consistent with the objective of total development, the league has provided 30 scholarships to outstanding players tenable at universities overseas. One such awardee recently graduated with a Ph.D. Paul Smith, a beneficiary of a scholarship said, "they helped me to fulfil a dream of acquiring higher education. Where I was from and especially my family's financial position, I knew it would be near impossible for this to have happened. By the grace of God I was given an opportunity to travel overseas and play football".
It would be good if scholarships could be awarded to one of our three universities and it is also time for the offshore universities operating in Jamaica to offer scholarships to sportspersons.
It is good that the league is being sponsored by Quick Cash to the tune of $500,000 as announced by representative of the company, Kenarthur Mitchell, a graduate of the Whole Life Ministries Churches Football League. Over the years, other companies such as Sports Plus (1997-98), The Churches Co-operative Credit Union and Sports Playaz (2001-2), have sponsored the programme but congregations and denominations need to consider sponsoring such wholesome activities.
Al Miller, pastor of the Fellowship Tabernacle, 'lost' in the General Election of October 2002, but he is on to becoming a winner with the Churches Football League, especially with the intention of establishing a league in every parish, which would culminate in a National Church Football League. And the goal to form an All Stars Churches League Team to tour the Caribbean, is equally
commendable.
The Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church.
