Former national player and Head Coach Carl Brown, along with ex-Fifa referee Courtney Campbell and former youth player Nick Ziadie will be this year’s honorees at the 32nd staging of the Heroes’ Day Bell-Ziadie Memorial football fiesta at St George’s College on Monday, October 21.

Four teams will participate in the day’s activities: Masters & Celebrities; St George’s College Old Boys’ Invitational; Christian Ambassadors; and Entertainers. As per usual, proceeds will be used to aid basic schools and children’s homes.

The event is in honour of two of Jamaica’s top coaches — Dennis Ziadie and “Jackie” Bell, who both died in a motor vehicle crash at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Dennis Ziadie played for St George’s College and Santos Football Club in the 1970s and ’80s and on the St George’s College Old Boys’ team, and later represented Jamaica.

Similarly, Bell played for St George’s College, St George’s College Old Boys’ football team and later coached Santos, while Ziadie was a player.

Ever since their deaths, Clive “Busy” Campbell, a Santos player at the time, has organised football games in their memory. The launch of the 2019 event took place at Football Factory on Shortwood Road.

“Proceeds from the event, as always, will be utilised to assist basic schools located in the East Kingston area such as Franklyn Town, Rollington Town and Vineyard Town as we continue our journey to ensure that the young people are afforded a solid education at the basic level in proper facilities,” said Campbell.

He reached out to young schoolboy footballers about preparing for life after football and cited several cases of persons in dire financial needs after their playing days are over.

“It is important for there to be a balance in the life of a footballer, whether it be at the school, club or national level. Coaches and management of teams must ensure that our footballers are given a fair chance to obtain a sound foundation in their education to properly met their financial obligations,” said Campbell.

“Too often we meet youngsters, young men, middle-aged men who did not make the cut to be a member of any team and what do we see? To put it bluntly, ‘sufferation’ at its peak,” he noted.

One of the honorees, Nick Ziadie — son of Dennis – and managing director of Football Factory, was on hand at the launch.

“I want to thank ‘Busy’ Campbell for putting on this for 32 years — [it began] a year after their deaths — and it is still in order and it speaks volume to their contributions and the love for my father and ‘Jackie’ Bell,” Ziadie pointed out.

Dr Elizabeth Ward, chairman of the board at Violence Prevention Alliance, is once again endorsing the event.

“We are really looking at sports as a development process. Sometimes we get caught up with superstars and winners, but we are looking at every child being engaged productively in sports and use sports to broker peace in communities,” said Dr Ward.

Denzil Wilks, general manager of the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), says sports is an intervention tool, hence he had no choice but to support the cause.

“When we look around and see what is happening and knowledgeable to the impact of sport, we wonder why the powers that be are not systematically utilising the sport for what it has done and can do,” Wilks questioned.

The president of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Wayne Shaw gave his blessing.

“On behalf of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association, we just want to let you know we endorsed this and want to say thanks to Busy for keeping this and keeping the Bell-Ziadie name alive. Keep up the god work and we are imploring all football lovers to come out and support a good and worthy cause,” said Shaw.

Admission to the event will be $500 for an adult and $100 per child, while under-12 will be allowed in free of cost.

—Howard Walker