LAUDERHILL – Sports have been and remain a conduit to upward mobility; with many young people across the globe seeing a career in sports as a way out of the ghetto. “Street ball was a way to occupy my time and channel my talent,” said Anthony “Baddas” Corbett, soccer player and former captain of the Jamaica national team. “I played for my country for 10 years- ’84 to ’94 -and was captain for 6 years; before the name Reggae Boyz was coined. Sports and athletic development is important for boys and girls and is often what keeps them out of trouble and pointed in the right direction.”
The annual Jamaica High School Alumni Soccer and Netball Tournament (JHSASN) is one way that former players from High Schools in Jamaica can aid in youth athletic development. Players compete wholeheartedly for the National Weekly Cup and a chance to win cash prizes for the athletic departments of their alma-maters.
Photo by David I. Muir
“I stay involved with JHSASN,” Baddas said, “It’s another way for us to give back to our schools and communities. Many of the athletic departments in Jamaica need help and this soccer and netball tournament highlights sports and activities that are important to us and our culture; showing students that though we may live abroad, we remain involved ambassadors and are working for their success and development.”
JHSASN is a nonprofit organization founded in 2009 by sports enthusiasts and community leaders to reunite past students who attended high school in Jamaica and create opportunities for local and international organizations to rally around and support youth development through sports.
“What happened for me through soccer can happen to any other youth and we have to keep developing and supporting initiatives like JHSASN so we can reach as many as possible. After all, legacy is something that will die with you if you don’t pass it on,” said Corbett.
Photo by: David I. Muir
The sixth staging of the Jamaica High School Alumni Soccer and Netball Tournament is scheduled for Sunday, September 5th and Monday, September 6th at the Lauderhill Sports Complex. The event is free and open to the public. Team registrations, vending and sponsorship opportunities can be found at: www.jhsasn.com
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