ROSE HALL, St James — One hundred children drawn from the SOS Children’s Villages in Barrett Town, St James and Stony Hill, St Andrew were on Friday presented with certificates for their participation in the Rose Hall Football Camp, organised by Marc Rollins and his mother, Michelle Rollins.

The one-week football camp, held at the Wyndham playing field, got underway last Sunday and climaxed with an awards ceremony on Friday.

Coaching was conducted by former Reggae Boyz Aaron Lawrence, Linval Wilson and Fabian Davis, along with other coaches from former SOS Children Villages.

The football camp, the brainchild of Marc Rollins, started nine years ago. Rollins, who was then attending college in the USA, wanted to do a little more than reading to the SOS children and got his college mates to fly down during the first week of August to assist with coaching in the inaugural football camp.

At the completion of the inaugural summer camp JFF president Captain Horace Burrell, accompanied by former national representatives Aaron Lawrence and Fabian Davis, attended the awards ceremony where they assisted in handing out certificates.

After that, according to Michelle Rollins, Lawrence and Davis volunteered to be a part of the coaching team, replacing the American students who assisted her son during the first year. Since then, Lawrence has participated in all the camps.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Montego Bay Charles Sinclair, who was in attendance at Friday’s awards ceremony, gave kudos to the organisers of the football camp.

“As mayor of Montego Bay I am very enthused to know that we have corporate citizens and individuals like Mrs Rollins and her son Marc, and the rest of the team that put something together like this. But not only put it together, but sustained it for the period of time that you have already sustained it for the benefit of the kids in Montego Bay and the entire St James,” an elated Sinclair said.

Guest speaker, retired international Test cricket umpire Steve Bucknor also lauded the programme.

“The idea is a good one and I wish you (Marc and Michelle Rollins) long life. Continue helping the youngsters as you are doing because it is of the utmost importance that we keep them away from the areas where sometimes they are vulnerable,” Bucknor remarked.

Conceptualiser for the programme Marc Rollins expressed gratitude to all the sponsors who partnered with him and his mother over the years to make the programme a success.

“It keeps growing every year and I thank everyone who has partnered with us over the years to make the success it is. I thank all the sponsors,” the young Rollins said.

Meanwhile, Tony Mira, general manager of Ritz Carlton Hotel and Spa, which supported the programme by providing rooms and breakfast to the coaches for the football camp, said he was only too happy to assist.

“It is such a heart-warming experience to want to help these kids and give something to keep them occupied and off the streets,” Mira noted.