Grammar School vs St Martin’s football rivalry to resume tonight at Victoria

The rivalry which existed in schools’ football in the 1980s and 1990s, between the two all -male schools here, will be re-enacted tonight at the Victoria Park.

Making this a reality is the Awesome Sports International, through its promotion event called: “Jingle Balls”.

The man behind the staging of the event, Renson Haynes, a former student of the St Vincent Grammar School and a former national player, explained to SEARCHLIGHT the reason for such a football match.

“As a past student of the Grammar School, we could remember the days when Grammar School and St Martin’s meet, there would have been two, three thousand persons in the Victoria Park … Do a game like this to relive the memory, is something that has been part of my thoughts for the past years,” Haynes disclosed.

“It is an enhancement of sports during the Christmas season… It also acts as a reunion for the players who have been living overseas…. It is an opportunity for them to come back together and in the spirit of the Christmas season,” Haynes added.

But the make-up of the teams tonight will not be purely from the past, as three current players from each of the two schools, will suit up for their institutions.

According to Haynes, “The present players will get a chance to play alongside their great past students that they might have heard of.”

Among those who will be turning out for the Grammar School are Rohan Keizer, Fitz Bramble and Haynes, while former national captain and Major League Soccer player Ezra Hendrickson will represent his alma mater – the St Martin’s Secondary.

Haynes noted that the principals of both schools have embraced the idea, hence the event has their blessings.

As a consequence, Haynes revealed that 20 per cent of tonight’s proceedings will be given to both schools from the gross takings.

“2017 has been a year with a lot of crime and violence, so ending if off the year on a positive note is a good way as sports is something that brings people together in a positive light, so I just want to be someone to do such a positive thing in St Vincent and the Grenadines,” the founder of Awesome Sports International declared.

Apart from the Grammar School versus St Martin’s match, which will kick off tonight’s proceedings, patrons will have an added bonus of seeing the 2017 national inter-community league champions Bank of SVG Barrouallie take on the 2017 national club champions Avenues United.

At stake is a $1,000 for the winner and $500 for the runner-up.(RT)