The Calabar High School field will be the stage for the 15th edition of the typically keenly contested David “Wagga” Hunt (DWH) Football Classic between the hosts and their sworn rivals and defending Manning Cup champions Kingston College.

This feast of football is to take place Saturday, August 16, with an exciting triple-header filled with fervour, friendship, memories, food, drink and football rivalry.

In the curtain-raiser at 1:00 pm, Pelicans Masters are set to tackle Kingston Commissioners Masters. Then at 2:00 pm, daCosta Cup team, Dinthill Technical, coached by Lenworth “Teacha” Hyde, will match wits with Manning Cup outfit Wolmer’s Boys’, guided by Jerome Waite. Both coaches have won the respective competitions on multiple occasions and are ranked among the best at school and club levels.

The featured game will see the Manning Cup teams of rivals Calabar High, coached by Jeremy Miller, and Kingston College, led by Vassell Reynolds, clash for the prestigious David “Wagga” Hunt Trophy. Calabar lifted the “Wagga” Hunt trophy last year when they tagged Kingston College 2-0 at the UWI Mona Bowl.

This amazing rivalry is real in every sport contested between the two institutions, with winners placed not only on a podium but in the hearts of supporters near and far. This game is exoected to carry that importance.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the featured game will get the Paulette Rhoden Trophy in honour of the late former patron of the event.

Honorees this year will be legendary coaches Lebert Halliman and Patrick “Jackie” Walters, two coaches who have given their life to the game and, notably, won schoolboy football titles at multiple schools.

The DWH Football Classic was established in 2009 by the David “Wagga” Hunt Foundation to honour Hunt, who passed away in 2007, and to raise funds to assist students at both Kingston College and Calabar.

Hunt, a past student of Kingston College, revived Calabar High School’s football programme and coached them to the Manning Cup and Olivier Shield all-island play-off titles.

Aside from football, Hunt was an avid track and field fanatic and analyst who pioneered the annual Champs Preview Magazine, recording the achievements of athletes at the annual ISSA Boys’ & Girls’ Athletics Championships.

The annual scholarship disbursement to the 24 recipients, (12 from each school) is now $150,000, plus grants of $500,000 were given in the past, to each school for a project of their choice.

Fans can expect to be treated to an afternoon of great rivalry and friendship. A contribution of $1,000 for adults and $500 for students with ID will be collected at the gate.

Vassell Reynolds, Kingston College football coach