‘One Love’ football fest to celebrate Bob Marley
INTERNATIONAL REGGAE legend Robert Nesta ‘Bob’ Marley would have celebrated his 71st birthday on February 6. His boyhood friend, Clive ‘Busy’ Campbell, organiser of the Bob Marley One Love Fun Day and football matches, is inviting ‘friends in football’ to enjoy a celebration of one of the world’s most universally revered personalities this Ash Wednesday.
The media launch was held yesterday at the Cuddy’z Sports Bar and Grill in New Kingston.
The event will be staged at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Arnett Gardens next Wednesday, February 10, beginning at 4 p.m.
Admission is $200 for adults 18 and over, while children under 12 will be able to enter free. Those over the age of 12 will pay $100.
Campbell, a former local footballer at Santos and a close friend of Marley, started the memorial event two years after Marley’s passing.
35TH YEAR
He recalled yesterday that Marley’s life was a short, but well-lived one.
“This is the 35th year that we are celebrating the life of Bob Marley. We are pleased to be associated with such a legend, a friend, a prophet and brother, who loved people and tried to always help others,” Campbell pointed out.
Queen’s Council Ian Wilkinson, the Master of Ceremony at yesterday’s launch, recalled his fondest memories of seeing Marley as a boy.
“In life he was huge; in death he is even bigger,” reasoned Wilkinson.
Sponsors Tuff Gong, through the Bob Marley Foundation, delivered their message via manager Alicia Williams, while Tari Lovell, sponsorship manager of Digicel, also gave sponsorship remarks.
This year’s Bob Marley One Love football matches will see Entertainers’ Invitational, Masters and Celebrities, Referees, and Tuff Gong Invitational teams vie for trophies.
There will be two Bob Marley One Love trophies, plus prizes and surprises from sponsors Digicel and the Bob Marley One Love Foundation, among others.
Proceeds from last year’s event were used to purchase computers for two basic schools in the inner city, with the organisers hoping to do the same this year.
Among persons named to play so far are Reggae Girl Rhodes Scholar Sherona Forrester and teammate Tashana Vincent, plus former Reggae Boyz Ricardo ‘Bibi’ Gardner, Cornel Chin-Sue, Kevin ‘Pele’ Wilson, Hector Wright, and Durrent Brown.
Referees Valdin Ledgister and Keeble Williams will officiate, while Charlie B from France, Nomadz, Aidonia, and Assassin will provide entertainment.