THE proceeds from this year’s 32nd staging of the Digicel Bob Marley One Love Charity Football Extravaganza and Fun Day will go towards the completion of the Malvern Basic School, it was announced at a press conference at Cuddy’z Sports Bar in Kingston yesterday.

Benjamin Simms, Digicel’s sponsorship executive, the main sponsor for the event, said that his company’s continued involvement with the Bob Marley One Love Football Extravaganza was never in doubt.

“I am happy to be here today… but it is not just about Digicel, it is about helping the children of the Malvern Basic School. I am pleased to announce my company’s commitment in sponsoring this event as it is a programme that is helping the children across Jamaica,” Simms said.

Also speaking at the launch, Rudolph Speid, president of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), urged everyone to come on board and support the event.

“This is a very wonderful event and I am looking forward to take part in this year’s fun day. KSAFA is very pleased to be a part of this event as it is contributing to the development of our children and I encourage corporate Jamaica to come on board to support this event,” he said.

The Jamaica Observer’s assistant marketing and communications manager Pamille Shaw-Blair said the newspaper was happy to play a role in helping the children.

“Where there is a cause to help the children, we will be a part of it. It is our commitment to keep the dreams alive, as we are involved in sports, entertainment, business, etc. The Observer is pleased to be on board and is proud to be a print partner this year,” Shaw-Blair said.

Clive ‘Busy’ Campbell, the event organiser, said that the main aim is to continue to concentrate on the development of the youth, and he also praised the sponsors for their support.

“Let me be firm in our commitment to do our part in guiding our young people. It is for this reason why we ask that you continue to support us in our quest to assist basic schools and children’s homes, and specifically this year, the completion of the Malvern Basic School.

“We are working hard to complete this project and we are relying on you, it is our responsibility to take care of them, to guide them, so that they are prepared to be the next generation of leaders.

“It is going to be a fun-filled afternoon and there will be a lot of prizes and giveaways. To our sponsors I say thanks a million for your continued support.”

This year the event will be on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at the Harbour View Mini Stadium where a Masters and Celebrities Invitational, Referees, Singers Invitational and DJs Invitational will face off in football matches.

The matches will honour four stalwarts in the music industry who have contributed to the development of reggae music both nationally and internationally — Beres Hammond, Lowell Dunbar and Robert Shakespeare aka Sly and Robbie, and Stranger Cole.