THE Kingston and St Andrew Football Association in collaboration with Jamaica Beverages Limited through its brand, Chubby; Sports cable provider SportsMax, and Continental Baking Company Limited staged the first of their Grassroots Football Programmes on Saturday, April 12.

Fifty children between the ages of six and 12 participated in the event, which got under way at 10:00 at the Duhaney Park football field. It was the first of 24 such events slated to be conducted across the KSAFA Confederation over the next nine months.

Opening the programme, Peter Higgins, the KSAFA general secretary, thanked the sponsors for partnering to make the programme a reality. Addressing the children directly, the general secretary encouraged them to enjoy themselves.

Among the 50 participants at this event were eight girls. Jacqueline Cowan, second vice-president of the KSAFA, said she was especially pleased that girls were in attendance. Two of the girls, six-year-old Amari Hewitt and 11-year-old Assana Najair, had different reasons for attending.

It was Amari Hewitt’s teacher at Duhaney Park Primary who encouraged her to attend, and she was glad she did because she was enjoying herself.

Najair said, “I came here to learn so that when I come of age, if given another chance, I will be able to be a successful football player.”

Among the boys, Tahjay Christie said he enjoyed the exercise and would want to do it again, and Joel Clarke said he learnt that football is all about fun and that it is a game that everyone can enjoy. Both boys are 11 years old.

President of KSAFA, Rudolph Speid, along with Terry-Ann Burrell, marketing, PR and Sponsorship manager of Jamaica Beverage Limited, delivered the closing remarks.

Next stop is Red Hills on Saturday.