St. Michael South football team spends evening with PM

IT was an evening of laughter and celebration, as the St. Michael South Football team was honoured at the Prime Minister's residence at Ilaro Court on Saturday night.

The Right Honourable Freundel Stuart, Prime Minister of Barbados and Parliamentary Representative for St. Michael South, welcomed the St. Michael South football team to his home, in celebration for their efforts in the David Thompson Constituency Football Tournament. He welcomed them on behalf of the constituency council, which wanted to thank the team, as well as those who played a part in the management of the team during the competition.

Many of the players were unable to attend due to having games for their individual teams scheduled on the same night as the event. However, friends and family were on hand to collect their certificates of participation. The council also gave trophies to the members of the team who had played on the team from its inception.

Speaking at the function was Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steven Blackett. He thanked the members of the Constituency Council for St. Michael South for the invitation to attend the event and also lauded the organisation for being one of the best councils within his ministry. He went on to congratulate the team on its consistently good performance over the 5 years of the tournament, in which they reached the playoffs each time.

“It speaks not only of your talent and prowess on the field, but to your perseverance, dedication and determination to remain a force to be reckoned with.”

Blackett highlighted and reminded the players that the effort and success of the team was due to the team spiritedness and the commitment of each player being separate parts and coming together as a whole to achieve a common goal.

The address was done by Prime Minister Stuart, and he welcomed all to his home, and stated that it was all to celebrate the stellar performance of the St. Michael South football team. Stuart noted that though the team had finished third in the competition, he believed that it was the team’s time in the 2017 competition to raise the title cup. He broke down the idea behind team sport as relying on others and they relied on you to do what has to be done ,so that the whole team does well and not just one individual. He also stated that it was the effort and vision of the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development to use the sport of football among many to teach community mindedness, where the lesson of being your brother’s or sister’s keeper can be understood.

The Prime Minister also congratulated the department of constituency empowerment for their sturdy efforts to consolidate, build and strengthen the sense of society and community on the island. He thanked the St. Michael South Constituency Council for investing in the youth.

“I would like to thank the constituency council for investing in the young men and women who are so critical to the forward movement of Barbados as a nation.”

Finally, he took the time out to congratulate not only the team, but all the players and people behind the scenes who made the successful running of the team possible. (AS)