by David ‘Wagga’ Hunt Classic for Saturday
The David ‘Wagga’ Hunt Football Classic returns for its 13th renewal this Saturday at the UWI Bowl, starting at 2 p.m., with this year’s scholarship recipients set for a 50 per cent increase to their allocations.
Last year’s recipients received $100,000 in disbursement per scholarship, but this year they will get an additional $50,000, with a grant of $500,000 to each school for a project of their choice.
More than 20 boys from the two schools will benefit from the scholarships.
The David ‘Wagga’ Hunt Football Classic commemorates former Jamaica youth coach Hunt and is a fundraiser for the DWH Scholarship Foundation, which bestows scholarships on Kingston College (KC) and Calabar High School students. Also, it is used to foster a positive relationship between the two rival schools.
Hunt was a former student of KC and a former Manning Cup coach of Calabar.
The event will feature a triple-header, with the headliner being the game between Manning Cup rivals KC and Calabar.
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) will receive the Paulette C. Rhoden Trophy as a tribute to the late Paulette Rhoden, a former patron.
There will also be a special tribute in honour of Bancroft Gordon, a former outstanding Excelsior High Manning player.
Former Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) president, Ambassador Stewart Stephenson, will be the patron of this year’s event.
The feature game will be preceded by the opening match between Shortwood United FC and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), followed by the masters’ matchup with Pelicans FC and Kingston Commissioners.
Meanwhile, Christopher Hunt, co-chair of the Washington DC-based Scholarship Foundation, said they are proud of the progress and achievements of the foundation over the years.
“I am extremely pleased with our accomplishments and the progress made since inception. Selfishly, I would want my brother to be alive, however, I am truly proud of his legacy and the positive impact of his life on our scholarship recipients,” he commented.
Arnold McDonald, co-chair based in Jamaica and chair of the David ‘Wagga’ Hunt Classic organising committee, is delighted to have a complete event after being impacted for three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contribution is $1,000 for adults and $500 for students with ID.