Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
LEFT: Perhaps seeing his diplomatic colleague for the last time, Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva (right) chats with departing German Ambassador Volker Schlegel.
RIGHT: Former Reggae Boyz goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence (second right) pledges his support to the academy launched by the Spanish-Jamaica Foundation and the Real Madrid football club. Sharing the moment are (from left) Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva, director general of the Real Madrid Foundation Carlos Abella, and former Real Madrid player Manuel Velazquez.

Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

When officials from one of the world's top football club sides come calling, you expect the who's who to welcome them.

Such was the case on Wednesday night as Manuel Velazquez and Carlos Abella of Spain's Real Madrid football club were guests of the Spanish ambassador to Jamaica, Jesús Silva. Velazquez actually donned the jersey of 'los merengues' and was a member of the European Cup (now called Champions League) winning side of 1966. Abella is director general of the Real Madrid Foundation.

Now, the environmentalists and the Spanish might have their differences at the moment, but for the time being everybody seems to agree on football. The Real Madrid officials were to launch a football academy in Montego Bay for underprivileged youth. It is a first for the club in an English-speaking country, as there are other academies in countries such as Ecuador and Argentina. The academy will be jointly funded by the club and the Spanish-Jamaica Foundation.

Relaxing

But the paperwork and press conferences about the partnership had been completed during the first few days of their visit. So the evening's reception was merely to relax. Former Reggae Boyz goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence, who will manage the academy, revealed that it was a dream come true for him to be associated with the venture. He pledged that even when he's old and grey and walking with a stick, he would still be working with the academy.

Other guests at this little get-together included head of the EU delegation, Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni, Chilean Ambassador Alfonso Silva and wife Ada, Brazilian Ambassador Cezar Amaral, Dominican Republic Ambassador Filomena Navarro, Cuban Ambassador Gisela Garcia, husband Jorge Crespo and daughter Beatriz, Alejandro and Lilia Madrigal from the Mexican Embassy, Ambassador Maxine Roberts and sister Valerie, DennisLalor, Ed Khoury and Thalia Lyn.