Tank-Weld brings steely determination to Waterhouse development goal
Popular Jamaica Premier League football club Waterhouse may be battling to escape relegation from the Red Stripe Premier League this season. But, whatever the outcome of the 2016/17 football season, there is a friend it can always rely on in the Tank-Weld Group.
Over the years, Tank-Weld has built basketball courts, soccer stadiums, computer centres and homework centres, repaired schools and churches, and assisted with the education of many young and upcoming students in a number of areas where it has its operations, most notably to the inner-city community of Waterhouse.
“The staff and management of Tank-Weld is heavily involved in many aspects of community organisation, inner-city infrastructure, projects, education, sports and development,” the company states on its website.
Waterhouse Football Club has long been known for its talented players and stellar performances at various competitions, including the Premier League. But, hiding behind the elite club’s success is a story of poverty, unemployment and crime to which many of its youths are exposed daily.
The club came into existence 48 years ago with one sole mission — to unearth talent from the community through the investment of time and resources, and mould talented individuals mentally, physically and psychologically into meaningful contributors to the club, the community and Jamaica.
While it has been able to accomplish some of its mandate, the club still struggles to continue being of service to more than 200 youngsters each football season, with football being a lifeline to many families in this inner-city community situated in the heart of the Corporate Area.
“You see unemployment is the primary factor that soothes boys and girls to do what comes to mind. We need more employment opportunities, because many of the youths do have skills, but just not enough jobs,” says general manager of the team, Carlton Byfield.
Byfield says football has helped community members eke out a living, but is disappointed that the meagre income earned from vending at the events is not sustainable, as games are not played regularly.
The club has used its winning record, strong leadership and unblemished safety record at the football stadium in Drewsland to woo sponsorship from several large brands in corporate Jamaica. However, with the growing dependence on football, much more support is needed.
One such sponsor is Tank-Weld Ltd and their involvement is beyond the realm of sponsorship. The company’s commitment is anchored in its donation of the Drewsland Football Stadium to the Waterhouse Football Club and the community in 2003.
Since then, Tank-Weld has continued philanthropic work in the greater Waterhouse community by building and equipping a homework centre, taking care of the elderly and providing back-to-school and Christmas treats for the children annually.
Bruce Bicknell, managing director of Tank-Weld, says the company has made significant investments in the community, supporting the development of education and sports, by assisting schools with repairs and construction, by the construction and maintenance of a homework/computer centre and the Waterhouse Mini-Stadium, which also has basketball and football facilities.
“We have also partnered with Food for the Poor, to support schools in the area with much needed furniture,” Bicknell noted.
The company said that it believes that the construction of the Mini Stadium and the sponsorship of the football team have helped to uplift the community, and put it on the map as one of the powerhouses of the sport in Jamaica.
“We believe in the development of Waterhouse and they are our family,” Bicknell commented.
President of the club Donovan White says that football to Waterhouse “is like oxygen”.
“Without it, you die. Today, we have approximately 50 persons on our monthly payroll, each of those employees have a financial impact on an average of four other persons, creating both a direct and indirect economic windfall for more than 200 persons,” he explained.
This, by the way, does not include those who provide a service to the stadium or the club daily, weekly and monthly.
“Football provides jobs and economic stability for the Waterhouse Community and many others like it across Jamaica, without which unemployment and all the ills that go with it only get worse. Besides, it lifts the spirit of the entire community and gives the youth something to think and talk about instead of being idle and engaging in negative behaviour,” White added.
Football in Waterhouse has deep roots planted in the community, with many players over the years being selected for the national team. It also serves as a scouting ground for new talent for larger international clubs.
Through the years, the club has worked hard to develop youth programmes that have poduced young talents who have gone on to win championships in the ISSA/Manning Cup for teams like Jamaica College, Kingston College, Norman Manley High and St George’s College.
These young players, who begin playing from as early as 10 years old, have continued to serve Waterhouse FC as their professional club, serving the community with discipline, commitment and hard work.
“What communities like Waterhouse need is more investment through public/private partnership in vocational and remedial adult learning, where youngsters can learn a skill/trade. So that, in addition to football, they can make a meaningful contribution to Jamaica’s labour force,” White insists.
While Waterhouse has long been reputed to be a community breeding crime and violence, White believes that much can be done to erase this stigma and create real opportunities for development, beginning with the common denominator -— football.