Skill and athleticism paraded at UWI Scholarship Festival

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

OVER 100 Jamaican sixth-form students from across the island gathered at the University of The West Indies (UWI) Mona campus over the period of January 3-5, for the UWI Scholarship Festival.

The festival saw scouts representing a total of seven institutions overlooking local schoolboy talent. This included scouts from the local University of Technology (UTech) and host University of The West Indies, while Villanova University, University of Central Florida (UCF), University of West Virginia, Ohio Baptist and Temple University where from overseas.

The boys on show were a collection of sixth-form students, who had represented their schools in the recent Manning and daCosta Cup competitions.

Each student was recommended by their schools for outstanding academic and sporting achievement. Over the three days the boys were tested on various skills and fitness aspects while the final day featured games between all start Manning and Dacosta Cup teams.

Speaking with the TEENage team, assistant coach of UCF Mauricio Ruiz said that he had seen a lot of talented players over the three days and that there were at least five players he thought could make it in the American Collegiate league.

When asked what was special about Jamaican football players Ruiz replied that "Jamaicans are speedy, strong and creative; a mixture that is not abundant in the states." Temple University's head coach Dave McWilliams shared the same sentiments: "Jamaicans are skilful and athletic."

McWilliams was only at the festival for the final day but was also impressed with what he saw in such short space of time. Both coaches were also keen to point out that any player chosen on talent must also be able to matriculate at a tertiary level in the States, so grades were very important.

Rashid Hall, sports co-ordinator at UWI, was overwhelmed with not only the outcome, but also the talent that was on show.

Hall pointed out that UWI was proud to be part of an initiative to create opportunities for Jamaican students and that the university itself was looking for an attacking player to bolster its team.

— Ian Williams