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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>WFA, politicians call for football to be used as a vehicle to reduce violence in the west</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>PAUL A REID, Observer writer
Saturday, August 12, 2006
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=336 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>Western Confederation Super League champions: Negril's captain Derval Fraser (centre) accepts the Western Confederation Super League Captain's Bakery Trophy from regional president Everton Tomlinson (left) and Wayne Saulter, financial controller of the Captain's Bakery at Thursday night's award ceremony. (Photo: Paul Reid)</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>SAV-LA-MAR, Westmoreland - A call has been made for football to be used as a vehicle to help reduce the incidence of violence in the Sav-La-Mar area.
President of the Westmoreland Football Association (WFA) and chairman of the Western Confederation, Everton Tomlinson joined politicians, Dr Wykeham McNeil, the junior minister of tourism, Russell Hammond of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and Paul Buchanan of the People's National Party (PNP) in calling for something to be done to curb the level of violence that has affected the Westmoreland capital.
The calls came at Thursday's joint awards ceremony of the WFA and Western Confederation Super league held at Hotel Commingle.
Tomlinson, who has served as president of the WFA for six years, said "football can make a difference, football can bring peace and we need to start at the youth level".
Buchanan, who served as president of the Arnett Gardens Football Club for six years, told the audience that while he was head of the South St Andrew club, he saw first-hand the impact of sports on the war-torn area.
Buchanan, who is one of five persons vying to represent the PNP in Central Westmoreland, said along with the president of Tivoli Gardens FC and the former Leader of the Opposition, Edward Seaga, he used football to get people, who hither to had no dealings to come together in peace.
Hammond, the JLP candidate for Central Westmoreland, expressed deep concern for the level of violence in areas of the town and asked the supporters not to encourage criminality or disruptive behaviour in players.
McNeil, the Member of Parliament for Western Westmoreland, said sports had a big role to play in the uplifting of the morale of entire communities. He said often times when he went to communities in his constituency, he could see a major difference after the football teams had achieved some success.
Western Confederation Super League champions Negril FC and WFA Major League winners Grange Hill were the toast of the ceremony, walking away with the lion's share of the prizes.
In addition to the championship title and one of the two end-of- round titles, Negril, who just failed to make it to the National Premier League, took four of the six sectional awards in the Western Confederation.
Howard Phillips was voted the Most Valuable Player, Lamont McIntosh, the best goalkeeper, Junior Francis took the award for the top coach, while Andre Walker copped the award for the best defender.
Montpelier's Denton Vidal got the award for the top midfielder, while his team-mate Lenore Campbell was the top scorer.
The Carl 'Long Life' Palmer-coached Grange Hill dominated the awards in the WFA Major League. They swept both end-of-round finals, along with the championships and took five of the six sectional prizes.
Leaford Pearce got the award for the Most Valuable Player; Palmer was the top coach; Wayne Perry was voted top goalkeeper; Ryan Gayle was the top d
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>PAUL A REID, Observer writer
Saturday, August 12, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=336 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>Western Confederation Super League champions: Negril's captain Derval Fraser (centre) accepts the Western Confederation Super League Captain's Bakery Trophy from regional president Everton Tomlinson (left) and Wayne Saulter, financial controller of the Captain's Bakery at Thursday night's award ceremony. (Photo: Paul Reid)</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>SAV-LA-MAR, Westmoreland - A call has been made for football to be used as a vehicle to help reduce the incidence of violence in the Sav-La-Mar area.President of the Westmoreland Football Association (WFA) and chairman of the Western Confederation, Everton Tomlinson joined politicians, Dr Wykeham McNeil, the junior minister of tourism, Russell Hammond of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and Paul Buchanan of the People's National Party (PNP) in calling for something to be done to curb the level of violence that has affected the Westmoreland capital.
The calls came at Thursday's joint awards ceremony of the WFA and Western Confederation Super league held at Hotel Commingle.
Tomlinson, who has served as president of the WFA for six years, said "football can make a difference, football can bring peace and we need to start at the youth level".
Buchanan, who served as president of the Arnett Gardens Football Club for six years, told the audience that while he was head of the South St Andrew club, he saw first-hand the impact of sports on the war-torn area.
Buchanan, who is one of five persons vying to represent the PNP in Central Westmoreland, said along with the president of Tivoli Gardens FC and the former Leader of the Opposition, Edward Seaga, he used football to get people, who hither to had no dealings to come together in peace.
Hammond, the JLP candidate for Central Westmoreland, expressed deep concern for the level of violence in areas of the town and asked the supporters not to encourage criminality or disruptive behaviour in players.
McNeil, the Member of Parliament for Western Westmoreland, said sports had a big role to play in the uplifting of the morale of entire communities. He said often times when he went to communities in his constituency, he could see a major difference after the football teams had achieved some success.
Western Confederation Super League champions Negril FC and WFA Major League winners Grange Hill were the toast of the ceremony, walking away with the lion's share of the prizes.
In addition to the championship title and one of the two end-of- round titles, Negril, who just failed to make it to the National Premier League, took four of the six sectional awards in the Western Confederation.
Howard Phillips was voted the Most Valuable Player, Lamont McIntosh, the best goalkeeper, Junior Francis took the award for the top coach, while Andre Walker copped the award for the best defender.
Montpelier's Denton Vidal got the award for the top midfielder, while his team-mate Lenore Campbell was the top scorer.
The Carl 'Long Life' Palmer-coached Grange Hill dominated the awards in the WFA Major League. They swept both end-of-round finals, along with the championships and took five of the six sectional prizes.
Leaford Pearce got the award for the Most Valuable Player; Palmer was the top coach; Wayne Perry was voted top goalkeeper; Ryan Gayle was the top d