many occasions. Charlie Smith, inspired by the presence of their outstanding technical director Jerome Waite, stunned the crowd with a spirited display to knock off a rather youthful Jamaica College (JC). Waite, who guided ‘Charlie’ during their fairy-tale run in the Manning Cup competition, was one of four persons honoured by the tournament organisers, “for their sterling contribution to the sport at all levels”. Asked about preparations and support for the tournament this year, director Bobby Austin pointed to the absence of Bridgeport High and Kingston College (KC), while welcoming first-timers, Campion College, the 1989 Manning Cup semi-finalist. “Ballaz Academy from Kingston, Jamaica, will not be making the trip this year and so, we will crown a new champion in the Youth (Under-13) division,” according to Austin. So far, eight teams will contest the Griffin Cup. They include: Olympiacos FC Academy, AS Roma Academy, New Rochelle SC, Young Stars Academy, Harbour View FC, Yonkers Deportivo, Central Brooklyn FC and Griffin Football Club, the 2023 runners-up. On ‘championship Sunday’, there will be a pause to remember a father figure in the sport, at the club, community, county and state levels in the person of Alfred Simms, who passed away in March this year. Simms, who had his own Bronx Youth Football programme, was a fixture at the Evander Childs High School field, all the while running a successful tax/accounting business in the heavily Afro/Caribbean enclave of the North Bronx. The tournament will start each day at 9 a.m., weather permitting. 10 THE WEEKLY GLEANER | JUNE 13 - JULY 13, 2024 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | ADVERTORIAL Aubrey Campbell/Gleaner Writer NEW YORK, NY: TWO SCHOOLS with enviable achievements at the level of schoolboy soccer in Jamaica will lead this year’s parade of 18 teams that will compete at the 2024 staging of the Jamaica Alumni Football Tournament (JAFT), on Saturday and Sunday, June 29 and 30, at the James L. Fleming Park, Yonkers, NY. Camperdown High School, winners of the Over-45 division last year and one of the most consistent teams since the competition started in 1996, in the Bronx, and Charlie Smith Comprehensive High School, the 2023, Under-45 division winners, are favourites to repeat, all things considered. Led by captain and MVP winner, Adonis ‘Danny’ Maxwell, ‘C’down’ overcame a spirited yet disciplined Herbert Morrison Technical outfit for the win. Captain and midfield general Keith ‘Baddaz’Tomlinson is vowing to have the right pieces in place this time around, after coming oh, so close on so C’down, Charlie Smith favoured to repeat WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS. Camperdown High School past students, champions of the Jamaica Alumni Football Tournament/ Over-45 division, 2023, beating HMT. NO MORE WAITE-ING. Inspired by coach and mentor Jerome Waite (second, right), Charlie Smith HS, with the help of (from left) Ricardo, Eugene Barnes and Leon Strictland, won the Jamaica Alumni Football Tournament/Under-45 division, last year, beating JC. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Tournament director Bob ‘Tego’ Austin, a JC alum. JAMAICA ALUMNI SOCCER FEST
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