Aubrey Campbell/Gleaner Writer NEW YORK, NY: DEFENDING CHAMPIONS St. Andrew Technical High School (STATHS), head a list of 22 teams from 14 schools taking part in the annual staging of the Jamaica Alumni Football Tournament (JAFT), at the James L. Fleming Stadium in Yonkers, New York, on June 28 to 29, this year. Of the 14 schools, 22 teams will compete in the usual two divisions, Under 45 (Sub-Masters) and Over 45 years (Masters), in the preliminary rounds (group phase), with the top four advancing to the single elimination (knockout) round. Masters’ champions St. Andrew Technical High School (STATHS), who are taking orders from ‘skipper’ Clive Nicholson, will start as pre-tournament favourites but will be hard pressed if the five-time champions Camperdown can repeat their 2023 form, according to an equally confident Carlton ‘Bottlehead’ Simmonds. Last year’s beaten finalists and a perennial contender Herbert Morrison Technical, will be a handful, as long as their inspirational leader Keith‘Baddas’ Tomlinson reports for duty. First timers Dunoon Technical can expect a tough welcome from the seasoned ‘masters’, including, Calabar, Kingston College and Dinthill Technical, all of whom know what it feels like to be the last team standing. There will be a new Under 45 champion this year, as Munro College has called ‘time out’. And that means last year’s beaten finalists and former champions, Calabar High, aka ‘Rabalac of Red Hills Road’’ should relish the going this year. Dressed for success, débutantes Campion College played some of the best football last year but was undone by inexperience. Cornwall College makes a welcome return to the ‘younger’ division and will parade their championship winning pedigree for all to see. They have a ‘spoon’ in Richard McCallum but how they dish and dash at either end, could be the difference maker. A Yonkers welcome awaits with the likes of; former champions Jamaica College, XLCR and Kingston College which defeated them in the very first final at Evander Childs High School Park, on a brilliant goal by Derrick ‘Yabba’ Forbes, some three decades ago. Back by very popular demand, is the Town v Country (All Manning vs All Dacosta) match for players over 50 years old. This game will be played on Saturday, June 28, before the Under 45 finals. Players expected to show for the All Manning team are; Paul Young, (Wolmers);Altimont “Freddie” Butler (Dunoon); Michael “Dunga” McDonald (JC); Dane“Tucka B”Walker (C’Down); Dwayne “Johnno” Johnson (JC); Christopher “Chippa” Morgan (St. George’s); Byron Earl (Charlie Smith); Adonis “Danny” Maxwell (C’Down); Damion “DuttyMan” Powell (N.Manley); and Derrick “Yabba” Forbes (KC). The All Dacosta selection will be led by Keith “Baddas” Tomlinson (Herbert Morrison) and include; Gregory Messam(Compre), Alton ‘Noah’ Sterling (STETHS), Wayne “Sprite” Campbell (Clarendon); Cleon “Nochie” Hibbert (Clarendon); Michael “Peashead” Marshall (Dinthill); Geoffrey “Muzzo” Hewitt; Bertram “Bertie” Brown (Titchfield), Ali-Pee& Garfield “Pele” Wright (Cornwall);Chiwale‘Charlie’ DaSilva (William Knibb), and Athol Shearer (Herbert Morrison). Tournament director Bob ‘Tego’ Austin, said the event will again feature ‘the future of the sport’, with youngsters from academies in the area competing for the Griffin Youth Challenge trophy and other prizes and incentives. “The Griffin Youth Invitational tournament will run simultaneously with the Jamaica Alumni Football Tournament making for that wholesome family outing, something I look forward to each year.” 8 22 teams for Jamaica HS Alumni Soccerfest STATHS IS IT, FOLKS. St. Andrew Technical HS ‘masters’ emerged champions of the 2024 festival and will be looking to make a successful defence this year. CONTRIBUTED CHARLIE PRIDE ON PARADE. With last year’s winners Munro College out, Charlie Smith, the 2023 champs, will start this year’s festival as the team to beat in the U45 division. TAKE IT IF YOU CAN. A Clarendon College player (left), gets the better of his Jamaica College opponent (right), during group play at last year’s alumni soccerfest at the James L. Fleming Park, Yonkers, NY. GEORGE’S 3, C’BAR 1. A Calabar player second right/Green), is triple-teamed by players from the opposing St. George’s College in the O-45 division at the 2024 edition of the Jamaica Alumni Soccerfest in Yonkers, NY. ADVERTORIAL THE WEEKLY GLEANER | MAY 15 - JUNE 14, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS U-45 TEAMS (JUNIORS) Kingston College Calabar Charlie Smith Campion College Excelsior Jamaica College Camperdown Cornwall College O-45 TEAMS (MASTERS) STATHS (champions) Camperdown Edwin Allen Cornwall College Jamaica College Dinthill Technical Herbert Morrison Clarendon College Kingston College Charlie Smith Dunoon Calabar Campion College Excelsior ...PARTICIPATING TEAMS
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