MONTEGO BAY, St James-

Over 20 schools and clubs from parts of western Jamaica have received football gear including shirts and shorts valued at US$27,000 (approximately J$2,052,000) from Fresh Bread Ministries International.

The presentation, which was made at the church’s Market Steet office on Wednesday, saw special guests in the form of former national goalkeeper and captain of the Reggae Boyz Warren Barrett and former national teammate Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis.

Barrett, a member of the Cornwall college coaching staff, told the gathering that he hoped St James High’s win in the ISSA Ben Francis Knock Out two weeks ago will signal a new era for St James football.

“St James High’s victory is a good one for us and I hope it can be a turning point in St James football,” he said, assing that the win came at the right time, as “we have not won anything in a long time”.

Cornwall College was the last school from St James to win a football title when they took the Ben Francis KO in 2003, five years ago.

The gear which ranged in sizes from adult to youth was purchased and donated to Fresh Bread Ministries by Logos Apostolic Church of Ontario, Canada following a recent visit to island by several of their members.

Philemon Samuels, pastor of Fresh Bread, told reporters after the brief ceremony, ” it’s important for the church to be involved fully in nation-building and one of the best places we can start is with the youth and sports”.

He also said, “one of the best ways to begin moulding the minds of the youths was through sports”.

Fresh Bread is also involved in international and local outreach ministries.

Among the schools and clubs that benefited from the donations are:

.Albion Primary and Junior High;

. Barracks Road Primary;

. St Evans Kindergarten Prep;

. Howard Cooke Primary;

. Montego Bay High;

. Catherine Hall Primary;

. Cornaldi Primary;

. Herbert Morrison High;

. Mt Salem Primary & Junior High;

. Hemmingay Prep;

. Irwin High School;

. Bethel Junior High;

. Maldon High;

. William Knibb High;

. Green Pond Primary;

. Violet Tourers /Kickers and

. Pitfour Youth Football Academy.