O'neal Wilson (second left), captain of the Meadhaven United Under-15 football team, accepts the Winston Chung-Fah Trophy from Harry Maragh (second right), president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), and Stewart Stephenson (right), president of KSAFA, during the recent awards ceremony for the Shipping Industry/KSAFA Under-15 Competition held at the SAJ. At left is Lijyasu Simms, coach of the Meadhaven United Under-15s. - CONTRIBUTED
THE AWARDS ceremony for the Shipping Industry/KSAFA Under-15 competition for the Winston Chung-Fah Trophy took place on Thursday, September 8, at the offices of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ).
Harry Maragh, president of the SAJ, presented the Winston Chung Fah Trophy and prize money of $80,000 to Meadhaven United, the top team in the competition, which defeated Tivoli Gardens Under-15 team 1-0 in the finals. The SAJ president congratulated all the top performers in the competition, and had a special word of encouragement for the youngsters.
Mr. Maragh said, "I want to encourage you young men to consider a career in shipping, even as you study to pass all your exams with the highest grades. Shipping is a very vibrant and growing industry that requires the brightest and healthiest people. The industry employs a wide range of professionals, such as engineers, pilots, accountants, stevedores and shipping agents."
The SAJ president told the young footballers that after high school they could apply to the Caribbean Maritime Institute where they could acquire specialised skills.
The local shipping industry, led by the SAJ, joined forces with the Kingston & St. Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) in support of this year's Under-15 competition, which kicked off in June.
Charles Johnston, executive chairman of Jamaica Freight & Shipping Ltd., and a past president of the SAJ, was instrumental in garnering the support of the shipping fraternity to the tune of $500,000 that covered prize monies, referee fees, administrative costs and trophies and awards.
At the awards function, KSAFA president, Ambassador Stewart Stephenson thanked the sponsors from the local shipping industry on behalf of the 25 Under-15 teams in Kingston and St. Andrew that participated in the competition. The sponsors were: the Shipping Association of Jamaica; Jamaica Freight and Shipping; Kingston Wharves Limited; Seaboard Jamaica; Maritime Towing Limited and Port Contractors Limited.
Michael Bernard, director of shipping services at Jamaica Freight & Shipping, said that his company was proud to support football in the Under-15 age group, as it was helping to build character and prepare the next generation to be Jamaica's national representatives. He said that his company's sponsorship was based on the belief that sport is a useful means of inculcating discipline, teamwork and positive self-esteem among Jamaican youths.
Joseph Lowe, operations manager for Maritime Towing Limited, and Trevor Riley, general manager of the SAJ, also participated in the function by presenting awards to some of the top performers.
The function was chaired by Stephen Bell, chairman of KSAFA's Sponsorship and Marketing Committee and also general manager of the Caribbean Shipping Association.
Winston Chung-Fah, who has dedicated his life to the development of local football, came home in June to kick off the competition for the trophy named in his honour.
The top performers in the 2005 Shipping Industry/KSAFA Under-15 Competition are as follows:
Champion Team - Meadhaven United;
Second-Place Team - Tivoli Gardens FC;
Third-Place Team - Constant Spring FC;
Fourth-Place Team - Real Mona FC;
Leading Scorer - Ramar Brown, Santos FC;
Fair Play Team - Tivoli Gardens FC.
