By Paul-Andre Walker, Staff ReporterHOMEWARD bound was the cry of the Waterhouse community as they witnessed the official opening of The Drewsland Mini-Stadium yesterday.
Amidst constant showers, thousands graced the occasion at which Dr Omar Davies, Minister of Finance and Planning, delivered the main address at the opening ceremony. Raymond Anderson, 1st Vice President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Leaford Grant President of the Waterhouse Football Club, and Donovan White, Club Executive of Waterhouse, were among some other officials who spoke at the lengthy event.
The day also featured the annual Bell/Ziadie Memorial where Arthur Cameron and Milverton Brooks, both former national representatives, and Steve Bucknor, Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) referee and cricket umpire, were presented with special awards.
MATCHES
Three football matches were scheduled to mark the special event. The Waterhouse sponsors played against Waterhouse past players and the Kingston and St. Andrew Football Association's (KSAFA) Masters played against the JFF Masters comprising past national stars Peter Cargill, Durrent Brown, Howard "Juicy" Bell, Lenworth "Teacher" Hyde, Michael Tulloch, Richard Murray and Wayne Whonder amongst others. In the feature game - the Bell/Ziadie Memorial - the Entertainers beat Masters and Celebrities 5-2, while Waterhouse's Sponsors beat their Past Players 2-1, and the KSAFA Masters scored a 4-2 victory over the JFF Masters.
The pelting rain did not stop the mini-stadium from being almost full to capacity, while the special attendees thanked corporate Jamaica for their support and the fans for remaining true to Waterhouse.
Dr Davies called for the unity to continue within Waterhouse so that the community could become as great an achievement as the stadium.
Bruce Bignell, a representative from Tankweld Metals thanked the other sponsors, Dairy Industries Limited, Tru Juice and Pepsi for the contribution of the 18 million dollars it took to build the stadium.
