A core group of former Reggae Boyz players have launched a major fund-raising effort to support communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa, driven by what Jobi McAnuff describes as both personal loss and national duty.

McAnuff, who represented Jamaica in over 30 matches, said the idea came naturally once he and his former teammates recognised the scale of the crisis on the island.

“In terms of the initiative and motivation, obviously we saw all the build-up to the hurricane. I have a lot of family over there, I keep in touch with them, we knew obviously it was going to be a bad one. We were hoping for the best but, unfortunately, what we see in a lot of the country, it was catastrophic really,” McAnuff told the Jamaica Observer.

“I had a chat with some of the players — Adrian Mariappa, Wes Morgan, Joel Grant, Garath McCleary — guys that were involved during my time playing, and we just felt that we could do something quite simple — a GoFundMe page — and kind of use our reach and people being familiar with us and just give them a place where they could donate safely.”

The storm’s impact also hit McAnuff on a deeply personal level.

“It has affected myself and a lot of my family deeply. I have got a lot of relatives living in various parts of the island. Quite a few [are] based in Kingston — which I know in terms of the damage got off lightly — but I also have family in Mandeville, my dad is originally from St Ann, but I know that the west was really badly affected and it has been so sad to see the extent of the damage,” he stated.

“People have lost everything that means everything to them so it has been heartbreaking to see some of the scenes, so we are just trying to do as much as we can to move forward.”

A wide cross section of former national players, which also includes Giles Barnes and Clayton Donaldson, have joined him in the initiative, reflecting the strong brotherhood within that era of Jamaica’s football.

McAnuff, who is now a pundit on British TV, says the response to the initiative has exceeded expectations.

“A big bulk of that group that we had is involved, and when I get to Jamaica I am hoping to link up with Rudolph Austin and those guys who want to get involved as well, so a good chunk of that squad [is participating].”

“The response has been brilliant; everyone here has been very generous with the way they have donated. We have raised a really good amount of money, something we can bring over and have an impact and get a hold of some of those real necessities that people are having to go without.”

McAnuff, who plans to be in Jamaica for Tuesday’s crucial World Cup qualifying match against Curacao at the National Stadium, also touched on the team’s qualification efforts, noting that securing a spot at the World Cup will provide a well-needed lift to the nation.

“I will be taking the game in on Tuesday. We have a little more work to do [but] it’s a must-win though. The boys know what’s needed so really hoping to be able to be there and, after a big win, be able to celebrate a historic night from a football and country perspective. So, I am really hoping the guys can get the business done, which I think the whole country needs given recent events — we need a bit of good news,” said McAnuff.

For McAnuff and his former teammates, the project is more than just a fund-raising effort. It is an act of solidarity, with one generation of Reggae Boyz standing firmly with the country that shaped them, determined to play their part in the rebuilding efforts.

Former Reggae Boyz defender Wes Morgan (left), seen here in a Copa America match in 2016 alongside Uruguay’s Carlos Sanchez, is also involved in the relief effort.