Reggae icons Jimmy Cliff and Nadine Sutherland, along with Arnett Gardens manager George Phang, will be the honorees at the 38th staging of the Bob Marley One Love football charity matches set for Ash Wednesday, March 6, at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

The 70-year-old Jimmy Cliff, whose real name is James Chambers, is one of Jamaica’s foremost musicians and actors and an awardee of the Order of Merit. He was the star in the local movie production The Harder They Come in 1972, and has a number of hit songs from the ska and reggae era.

The 50-year-old Sutherland was the first artiste to be signed by Bob Marley label Tuff Gong, recording the hit Starvation on the Land at 11 years old. She went on to become a successful dancehall artist in the 1990s.

Businessman George Phang has been instrumental in Arnett Gardens’ success over the years, culminating with five titles in 1978, 2001, 2002, 2015, and 2017.

Organiser Clive “Busy” Campbell’s Masters and Celebrities in association with the Violence Prevention Alliance will once again provide a fun day full of football that will see four teams playing in a round robin format.

This year the Entertainers Invitational, Referees Invitational, and Christian Ambassadors will be joined by a domiciled Reggae Girlz aggregation, made up of mainly Under-17 and Under-20 players. The senior Reggae Girlz, who head to France for the Fifa Women’s World Cup this summer, are sponsored by the Bob Marley Foundation through the late Reggae icon’s daughter Cedella Marley — singer, dancer, fashion designer, actress and entrepreneur.

“I would like to thank Cedella Marley, who had the vision to come forward and offer sponsorship to the Reggae Girlz at a time when they were struggling. Cedella, thank you. you saw what many others failed to see,” said Campbell.

Bob Marley Foundation relations manager Alicia Williams was on hand to give her blessing.

“After 38 years of implementation the One Love football matches continue to honour the legacy of Bob Marley and they continue to do things that were very close to Bob’s heart in terms of football and educational development. It was no secret that Bob Marley loved football and “Busy” and other historians can attest to that,” said Williams.

Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz Assistant coach Andrew Price also endorsed the event, saying once they were invited to the One Love football festival it was a no-brainer to take up the offer.

“As you know, the strong connection the Bob Marley Foundation has with football in Jamaica. As a matter of fact, they are one of the larger benefactors of the Reggae Girlz, who recently qualified for the World Cup in France.

“We will be utilising a lot of the younger players from the Under-17 and Under-20 players so that they can participate in the wonderful day of football,” Price noted.

“Bob Marley loved football a lot and if he wasn’t a singer he would have been a footballer, because he loved football that much. There were three things that he was buried with — his guitar, a football, and a stick of that you know what,” said Price to loud laughter.

Digicel, one of the many sponsors on board, was represented by Elon Parkinson, group head of public relations, who said they were more than impressed with Bob Marley’s music catalogue and the measure of the man through sports.

“Football, which so many Jamaicans love, the most popular sport in Jamaica, is a unifying sport, and from time to time warring factions come together under the broad banner of football to heal differences, mend the fences and to rekindle relationship.

“This is why a community brand such as Digicel is part of this extraordinary experience happening now in its 38th year. It is because we understand not only to serve communities, but to serve strong communities, therefore we have to connect ourselves with binding force — music and football, Bob Marley — and we are very proud to be associated with the One Love football this year once more,” he added.

Once again Chris Martin will lead the Entertainers and Masters Invitational, along with the likes of Sasco, Ward 21, Ibhomars, Tony Curtis, Lukie D, Nomadz, Shortboss, Ian “Pepe” Goodison, Jermaine Gonzales, Ricardo “Bibi” Gardner, Nikita Miller and Jah Mikes, to name a few.

The Referees Invitational will have national head coach Theodore Whitmore, Karl Tyrell, Kevin Morrison, Keble Williams, Marcel “Fuzzie” Gayle, Rudolph Speid, Cornel ChinSue, Kevin “Pele” Wilson and Shavar Thomas,

Admission to the event will be adults $500 and children $100. Children under 12 will be admitted free. Proceeds from the event will be used to assist basic schools islandwide.