Tivoli Gardens' striker Jermaine Allen (left) and other members of the Digicel Premier League football team carry the coffin of their former teammate, Oraine Simpson, yesterday. The funeral for the former national footballer was held at the Tivoli Gardens Community Centre. - photos by Rudolph Brown/Photographer

Hundreds of mourners, led by Prime Minister Bruce Golding, paid their final respects to former national footballer Oraine Simpson at his funeral, which was held at the Tivoli Gardens Community Centre yesterday.

The mourners also included president of the Tivoli Gardens football club and former prime minister, Edward Seaga, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, minister of youth, sports and culture, and Carvel Stewart, vice chairman of the Premier League Clubs Association, and other members of the football fraternity.

Simpson, 26, was stabbed to death during a dispute on Chestnut Lane, Denham Town, west Kingston on October 13.

First lesson

Golding, who is also the member of Parliament for West Kingston the constituency in which the Tivoli Gardens Football Club is based, read the first lesson while the second was read by councillor for the area and Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie.

Seaga, in remembering Simpson, told the gathering that he was a very hard-working and dedicated young man, who would be sadly missed by all.

"It was not expected that Oraine Simpson could have come to his end so early," Seaga said.

The former prime minister and former member of Parliament for West Kingston said Simpson had mapped out his life and his ambition was to be a good football player and he pursued it with passion. Seaga also disclosed that they (the club) would be honouring Simpson by retiring his number 22 jersey.Stewart, who is also the chairman of the Harbour View Football Club, said Simpson was a good person, both on and off the field.

Professional

"We saw Oraine as an example of the type of professional, which we will look to build to grow this sport of football in Jamaica," said Stewart. "Oraine exemplified good sportsmanship - aggressive, talented football player on field and good friendship off the field." Simpson, who had represented the national team on four occasions, was laid to rest at the May Pen Cemetery. The service was conducted by Pastor Patricka Hall and Deacon Donovan Johnson.

Augustus Simpson, father of the late national player Oraine Simpson, weeping at his son's funeral service yesterday.