Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), as part of its outreach programme, has partnered with Jamballers and IRIE FM to bring Christmas cheer to selected past players and administrators as the yuletide season rolls in.

Through the efforts of JFF staff member Beverly Melbourne of Jamballers, gift baskets were presented to former FIFA referee Dwight Royal, who has been incapacitated after a motor vehichle accident in Santa Cruz a few years ago. The gifts to him were presented by Patrick Malcolm, president of the St Elizabeth Football Association.

Presentations were also made to former league director of the JFF Bob West, who is in a nursing home in Mandeville, while former national player and Reno FC stalwart Boysie Nicholson, who has been ill for some years, will also benefit from the outreach programme.

JFF President Michael Ricketts said that “the JFF recognises the invaluable contribution that these persons have made to the development of football in Jamaica, and we thought it necessary to participate in this small gesture to recognise them and bring some cheer in this yuletide season”.

Ten people have been penciled in for presentations, with the final set to be done at Zip FM offices in Half-Way-Tree on December 14.

Melbourne, who is the lead person from Jamballers and the JFF in this worthy cause, is happy to play a part is bringing a smile to the faces of these individuals who have given so much in the past. “It is a blessing to be able to move about and interact with these noble people,” Melbourne said. “They would have given their best for the country and for football, and we want to put a smile on their faces and show them that they are not forgotten,” she said.