ROBERT Montague, Member of Parliament for St Mary Western, has donated $500,000 to assist the St Mary Football Association in staging its Major League competition, which had been under threat due to the lack of sponsorship for a third consecutive year.

The association’s president, James Pearson, had warned that failure to stage the competition could lead to the collapse of its youth programmes.

Describing football as a “playing field leveller”, Montague said the sport’s wide appeal and accessibility made it critical to youth development in the parish.

“I have gathered a couple friends and family and we have managed to put together $500,000,” Montague said.

However, he said more support is needed to sustain the parish’s football structure, which includes multiple competitions, including the mandatory Under-17 league.

Montague is now appealing for corporate Jamaica to get involved, pointing to the example set by McKay Security through its principal, Dr Jason McKay.

“We have been looking at what is happening in St Thomas and are hoping that McKay Security will also assist St Mary,” he said, referencing the company’s multimillion-dollar sponsorship of football in Kingston and St Andrew and St Thomas.

McKay Security’s investment has drawn attention, particularly in St Thomas, where a $5.1-million deal includes $1 million in prize money for the Major League champions.

“I want to endorse McKay Security and Dr Jason McKay. He doesn’t do business in St Mary but certainly in the wider Jamaica. I wish other companies would take that enlightened view,” Montague said.

He mentioned St Mary’s history of producing top football talent, including former Reggae Boyz defender Clifton Waugh, who was part of Jamaica’s historic qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

“We believe we have the next big footballer in St Mary. Football can motivate and guide our young people,” he said.

Montague said efforts are also being made to integrate football with life-skills training, including partnerships with agencies such as the Human Employment and Resource Training (HEART) Trust.

“We are going to marry football with life skills, requiring players to attend seminars and training opportunities,” he said.

He said discussions are ongoing with various stakeholders, including Dr Kornel Brown, a St Mary native who earned a doctorate after receiving a football scholarship.

Now, work continues on a stadium in Oracabessa, which Montague said is about 80 per cent complete. The facility, which began as a Jamaica60 legacy project, is intended to host Major League matches and potentially international games.

“The next stage is to complete the changing rooms, bathrooms, lighting and fencing,” he said.

Montague said the current challenges present an opportunity to reshape youth development in the parish.

“We are using this crisis as an opportunity to reset how some of our young people look at life, exposing them to opportunities and life skills,” he said.