Caple Donaldson

Western Bureau:

The No 7 jersey of former national striker, the late Caple 'Corntail' Donaldson, will be retired on Sunday, July 12, at a big novelty triple-header football extravaganza at the Frome Sports Ground in Westmoreland.

Donaldson wore the 'lucky' number when he guided Rusea's to an unprecedented four schoolboy titles in 1985.

The triple-header, which is slated to start at 2:00 p.m., will see local radio stations Irie FM and Vybz FM in the curtain-raiser, Rusea's '80s versus Reno '80s in the second game; and Entertainers XI against Lions United of New York in the feature game.

"The No. 7 shirt Caple wore at both Rusea's and Reno will be retired at half-time in the game between Rusea's '80s and Reno '80s," said Dirk Brown, public relations officer for Lions United FC, which is spearheading the organisation of the games.

Scholarship fund

"In addition to retiring Caple's shirt, we will be establishing a scholarship fund in his memory at Rusea's," continued Brown, "Caple has served his school and country well and we must do all we can to immortalise his contribution."

Donaldson played a key role in the three NPL titles Reno won in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The former star, who developed a severe case of mental illness after his playing days, was shot and injured in an incident involving the police in Savanna-la-mar last January. He later died in hospital.

The New York-based Lions United FC, made up primarily of former Rusea's daCosta Cup players, have been making a goodwill summer tour to Jamaica every year since 2002, playing games against several local teams.

While the game between the radio stations will feature mostly radio personalities, the games between Reno and Rusea's and Lion United and the Entertainers XI should generate serious interest based on the quality of the players that will be on show.

Serious preparation

"We have put a lot of serious preparation into the organisation of these games and I can promise you that we are going to be seeing some of the real big stars of former years as well as a wide array of top-flight entertainers," said Brown. "Once the public becomes aware of the players who will be on show, I am sure they will want to see these games."

For the Rusea's versus Reno game, the former will be under the guidance of the school's most successful coach, Emerson Henry, and will feature the likes of Mark 'Haglar' Wilson, Michael Graham, Aaron Lawrence, Phillip Wong and Donald Hewiit. The Reno team, which will be assembled by former national coach Wendell Downswell, will feature the likes of Linval 'Palla' Wilson, Tedroy Jones, Calvin Valentine and Clive 'Spider' Wedderburn.

In the Entertainers versus Lions United game, the entertainers already confirmed include Mad Cobra, Lukie D, Kiprich, Bushman, Nesbeth, Jigsy King, Michigan and LA Lewis.