MONTEGO BAY — Members of the National Football Team recently presented more than 60 children from the SOS Children’s Village in Rose Hall, Montego Bay with prizes and certificates of participation as the SOS Soccer Camp ended its one-week programme at the Rose Hall football field.

The soccer camp was organised by Marc Rollins, exclusively for the children of SOS, who all received football gear. The donated items included sneakers, shin guards, socks, shorts, balls, and special shirts dedicated to the memory of the late June Carter Cash of Cinnamon Hill Great House and country music fame.

Marc, the son of Michelle Rollins, who is the chairman of Rose Hall Developments Ltd, was joined by 10 football coaches including females from a number of US college football teams. They dedicated their time and skills to make the exercise an unforgettable experience for the youngsters.

Managing director of the National Football Team (Reggae Boys), Captain Horace Burrell, who attended the presentation ceremony, lauded the Rollins family for “a marvellous initiative for young people and the future of football”.

“I dare say that Mrs Rollins and her son must be highly commended for this tremendous effort,” he said, “because this does show that Mrs Rollins and her son do care about life here in Jamaica, and especially amongst those who are not so fortunate.”

He was deeply touched by the timely gesture, he said, and was honoured to express appreciation on behalf of the Jamaican football fraternity.

Mrs Rollins, in her brief remarks, commended all the participants and those who assisted her son in organising the camp. She added that there were plans to stage another camp next year.

“To watch a next generation of Rollins love the Jamaican people the way that John and I always have, is so thrilling, there just aren’t words for it,” she said.

Her son, Marc, spoke of the satisfaction the project had given him, as it helped children.

“I can’t wait to do it again next year,” he said, adding that the week in which the camp was conducted had been of the best week in his life.