Five teams from the Valley are now competing in the Second Annual Orlando Johnson Memorial Football Tournament which commenced at the Coronation Ball Field on Sunday, June 7.

Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett

The opening ceremony and start of the tournament followed an impressive road march by the colourful teams: North Valley, Lower Valley, North Side, The Valley and South Valley.
Chairperson, Ijahnya Christian, called for, and got, a rousing round of applause for the young people who took the initiative to organise the tournament. She recalled that the event was introduced last year in memory of Orlando Johnson who was a victim of “the madness that had taken hold of some of the island’s youth back then.” Johnson died after he was stabbed by a youngster from outside The Valley area during the Last Lap of the carnival activities. She said the tournament was being held annually in the name of peace among young people and to restore pride in The Valley community, and that she was grateful to the Valley Sports and Cultural Club for organising the event.

North Valley

The main address was delivered by Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett, Permanent Secretary responsible for Education, Youth, Sports and Culture. “Tragedy makes us reflect on our lives. It makes us pause and wonder why we do the things we do, why we foster hate instead of love; why we fight people we don’t even know rather than extending the hand of friendship,” she stated. “Why does it matter which village we live in or which colour we wear when, in the greatest scheme of things, we all live on this little island which we cannot even find on a world map?”

Lower Valley

The top public servant, who attracted much attention by her impressive delivery, went on: “I think it is a wonderful thing that The Valley Youth Sports and Culture Club has turned the tragic death of Orlando Johnson into something positive for young people by having this Football Tournament in his memory. Engaging in physical activity is a very important way for young people to develop life skills. Sports teach discipline. If your team wants to succeed, it means you have to practice. That takes dedication and discipline. It means you have to show up on the days and the times scheduled for practice and put out your best at all times.
“Being discipline also means that when your National Song is being played, you stand erect instead of slouching with your hands at your side. Sports also teach the importance of obeying rules. Every sport we play must have rules. Without rules, sports would make no sense. In the same way, every country has rules in the form of laws that everybody has to live by. Without these, there would be chaos. Sports teach us that if we all are to get along, we have to obey the rules. Sports also provide an avenue for young people to use their energy positively. Young people are very competitive and you always want to show others that you are better…What better way to do it than on this sports field or any other, showing your skills where everyone can see you outclass your competitors. This is an excellent way of doing battle without being violent. It doesn’t require any guns or knives - just the best weapon that God has equipped you with: your brain and your talent.”

North Side

Mrs. Petty-Barrett continued: “Sports teach respect. You have to respect your coaches, the umpire and other officials, your team mates and your opposing team…People who join gangs often say that in a gang they get respect, but I am not convinced of that. When people truly respect you, they want to bring out the best in you; they want you to excel and succeed. They don’t encourage you to do things that get you into trouble.

South Valley

They don’t degrade you and challenge you to do wrong. They don’t encourage you to fight people you don’t even know for reasons you don’t know. Those persons don’t respect you. They don’t even know what respect is. In fact, some of them can’t spell respect. They are just a group of people who have sent their brain away on a long vacation and they want you to send yours too.
“Do you want respect? Join a team of people doing positive things; people who can lift you up and not drag you down; people who can help you to be a better person. I think we would have all learnt from the death of Orlando Johnson, and all other young people who have died tragically, that tomorrow is not promised to us. So the question is: if I knew I would die tomorrow, how would I live today? You here today give me hope that your answer to this question will be: “I will live positively and be a blessing to others.”

The Valley

Director of Sports, Alkins Rogers, admonished the Valley Sports and Cultural Club to continue to reach out not only to the youth, but to all individuals and leaders within the community. He said that in so doing the Club would avoid some of the pitfalls that had destroyed other clubs. “I implore you to establish within your Club high standards of transparency and accountability,” Mr. Rogers urged. He also advised them to stay away from politics that “has destroyed sports club across the length and breath of the island.”
Gleason Brooks, a junior Pastor at the Church of God (holiness), appealed to the Club to practice team work in order to achieve success; to work towards positive self-esteem and conflict resolution and to avoid violence and misunderstandings. He encouraged the teams to engage in friendly competition always and to promote harmony, goodwill and cooperation among themselves and others.

Other persons who participated in the opening ceremony were Pastor Cecil Richardson who led the Prayers and Fiona Brooks who gave the Vote of Thanks.

Members of The Valley Sports and Cultural Club

The sponsors of the tournament are Iva Richardson, Oliver Brooks & Sons, Temenos Villas, LIME, Caribbean Commercial Bank, Kool FM, Aronel, CLM Heavy Equipment; Omega Car Wash, Ministry of Finance, Papa Lash, Rogers Photo Studio, Anguilla, Liquors & Tobacco; Ashley & Sons, Central Superette, Jamie Brooks, Raymond Guishard, President of the Anguilla Football Association, Alkins Rogers, Director of Sports, Hyacinth Augustine and Joash Proctor of the Department of Youth & Culture and all volunteers of the Second Annual Orlando Johnson Football Tournament.
The Valley Youth and Sports Organising Committee Members are Sherlon Richardson, Khaloni Richardson, Kimberley Brooks, Kimoyie Connor, Javille Brooks, Shonicia Richardson and Fiona Brooks.

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