NBA star Tim Hardaway poses with students from various St. Thomas schools at yesterday's press conference at the Jamaica Football Federation headquarters in New Kingston. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Phoptographer. Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
FORMER UNITED States National Basketball Association (NBA) star Tim Hardaway has thrown his weight behind St. Thomas-based organisation Upliftment Jamaica as it moves full steam ahead to enrich the lives of the nation's youth through sport.
Hardaway, who spent 13 years in the NBA where he was a five-time All Star, will be a guest of Upliftment Jamaica for the next three days.
In an address at the Jamaica Football Federation head office in New Kingston yesterday, the former Golden State and Miami point guard said he would do all he could to help the project and encourage corporate Jamaica to do the same.
"If we could just get one sponsor to just put up a recreation centre out here which kids could go to and hopefully learn the importance of sports, that would be great." Hardaway said. "Just getting the kids off the streets is a big thing. A lot of kids out there need our help."
Hardaway, famed for his crossover move dubbed the UTEP two-step, pointed out that "A lot of people have stopped trying, but we have to still try to find a way to help them. They are our future and we have to keep them motivated. I'm going to do whatever I can to get the message out there. The bottom line is we need help. People need to step up.Corporations need to step up. We won't be able to do it without them."
Today the Miami Heat all-time assists leader is expected to have a busy day, which will start with a visit to Kingston College before moving on to Greenwich Town All-Age and then to Paul Bogle High in St. Thomas.
Tomorrow, Upliftment Jamaica, will launch its summer camp with an all-day rally at the Goodyear Oval in St. Thomas.
The camp, sponsored by Puma, will last for the next four months and will see students take part in activities like football, netball, basketball and even board games.
