Hyde’s call for schoolboy football cancellation faces opposition

AS ORGANISERS continue to grapple with the decision of when or if to restart the suspended 2025 schoolboy football season after the devastation caused by the passage of Hurricane Melissa, one highly respected coach, Lenworth ‘Teacher’ Hyde of Dinthill Technical, is calling for the entire season to be scrapped.

Hyde insists that focus should be placed on restoration and relief efforts rather than playing football.

However, a number of other coaches — even those of the most affected schools — are eager to continue despite the nation still picking up the pieces from the unprecedented destruction caused by the hurricane.

Nevertheless, an emotional Hyde told The Gleaner that the season should be abandoned as too many lives have been lost and too many families are still lacking basic necessities for youngsters to be focusing on playing football at this time.

He argued that because those in the eastern sections of the island did not face the atrocities those in the west did, it is easier for them to move on but insists that rebuilding should be the first priority.

“I feel it for the people on that side of the island as I am very emotional about these things. Manning’s, Cornwall College. A lot of these kids have lost their places and families, so how can they think about football now?

“Some are saying that football will take your mind off the troubles. But I am not like that. I don’t think it will make anyone better. I am thinking about getting the country back up and running. We will have next year and the other year and the other year,” he said.

Hyde pointed to Kingston College’s gesture, where that Manning Cup team went to St Elizabeth Technical to help with clean-up efforts on the weekend and said it was deeds like this that are needed at this time.

Neil Harrison, coach of STETHS, said the psychological, social, and physical impact caused by Hurricane Melissa is beyond measure and that people need hope as well as something to uplift their spirits, and he believes that schoolboy football is the dose of medicine the country needs at this time to lift spirits from the trauma.

Unlike Hyde, Harrison believes the Manning Cup should continue whether or not the daCosta Cup is played but reasoned also that with the money schools have already invested this term, and with just 16 schools remaining in the competition, the daCosta Cup should be completed as well.

“In spite of the hurricane’s impact. We are willing to give it a shot. In St Elizabeth you have Maggotty High and STETHS. If Maggotty have issues, we wouldn’t have an issue partnering with them, sharing with them until things are back in good order.

Ocho Rios High school coach, Veron Peterkin, noted that currently, there is a struggle between resources and mental happiness.

In regard to the Manning Cup, Peterkin said it should go ahead even if the daCosta Cup is called off.

Clarendon College coach Devon Anderson is also advocating for a resumption of the competitions as he believes that it will be an opportunity lost for many young players aspiring to take the next step in their careers.

Anderson said even though he had players directly and indirectly affected by the hurricane, they were all still enthusiastic about completing the season.

“They trained hard and have looked forward to this for the last four months. The storm came and left a lot of damage and displacement, but life goes on.”