Elon Parkinson with the scholarship awardees.
Contributed
Beyond encouraging excellence on the football field, Digicel has stepped up its support for the 2023 schoolboy football season through donation of two $100,000 scholarships to Manning Cup players from non-traditional high schools. Kingston Technical High's Nickoy Walters, and Kishawn Valentine from Haile Selassie High, emerged winners of the Digicel scholarships. The money will go a far way toward paying for their tuition and other school expenses.
The boys came out on top of a field of fellow high school footballers who were tasked with writing a compelling essay to Digicel justifying their eligibility for the sponsorship. They were urged by their coaches to enter competition and write about the significance of balancing sports and academics.
Walters and Valentine expressed their gratitude for the scholarships, knowing that it will fill a big financial gap. Walters expressed, “It means a lot to me. I needed the help to better my education because things are very expensive, and I can’t afford it right now and I appreciate it a lot. I just want to thank Digicel.” He added, “I am in Sixth Form right now studying Business, and I want to major in Accounts. Digicel is one of the best companies right now, and I appreciate it a lot.”
An equally appreciative Valentine who looks forward to studying overseas, conveyed the profound impact of the scholarship on his future: “I feel really good. It means a lot and words cannot explain. I want this to help me get a better education overseas.”
Acknowledging the difficulty in choosing recipients due to impressive efforts from all applicants, Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs for Digicel, Elon Parkinson expressed his satisfaction with the selection of Walters and Valentine. He extended well-wishes for their academic pursuits, while emphasising that the scholarship sets up the boys for achieving excellence later in life. Parkinson praised the coaches' efforts in emphasising the holistic development of the student-athletes.
“Here we have two students from non-traditional high schools who were tasked with writing an award-winning essay to Digicel as to why they deserve this $100,000 sponsorship. These two boys came out on top. We are elated with the efforts from the coaches to rally their boys, which further demonstrates the ISSA Digicel Schoolboy Football competition is not all about talent on the field,” Parkinson concluded.
Nashville SC v San Jose Earthquakes: ‘A win would change everything’ - Godoy
Anibal Godoy insists that Nashville are already looking at their game against San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday as a must-win.
Nashville have won just once in the MLS this season and sit in 14th place in the Eastern Conference after a run of four without a win.
The Earthquakes, meanwhile, are bottom of the Western Conference having lost eight of their matches and recording just one win.
Godoy is aware of how their poor start to the season could affect their playoff hopes later down the line but is confident that Nashville can turn things around.
He said: “For us, it's an important week. It's a day we have to win, or we'll start to feel the pressure from other teams as they start to separate in the table.
“This league is long but if we want to get to the playoff you have to win games early on, especially at home.”
Liverpool agree compensation deal for Slot
Liverpool and Feyenoord have reached an agreement in principle over a compensation deal for Arne Slot to become the Reds’ manager next season, according to widespread Dutch media reports.
The Dutchman is reportedly poised to take over from Jurgen Klopp, who announced in January that he would be leaving the club at the end of the campaign.
Slot led Feyenoord to their second Eredivisie title last season after taking over the club in 2021.
It is believed that he topped the list of Liverpool’s favoured candidates due to his attacking playing style and ability to develop players.
Former Liverpool midfielder, Xabi Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title, and Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim were also reported contenders to take over from Klopp.
Slot had already confirmed his interest in managing in the Premier League, both earlier this week and previously when he was linked to Tottenham in 2023.
QPR 4-0 Leeds United: Shock loss for Farke's men seals Leicester's promotion
QPR thrashed Leeds United 4-0 in the Championship on Friday, ensuring Leicester City booked their promotion straight back to the Premier League.
Ilias Chair was the star for the Hoops as he scored the opener and assisted two more goals to ensure QPR will stay in the Championship for another season.
Lucas Andersen, Lyndon Dykes and Sam Field also got their names on the scoresheet in an emphatic win for Marti Cifuentes' side.
Leeds' heaviest defeat of the season was a huge blow in the race for an automatic promotion spot, with Ipswich Town just one point behind them in third place with two games in hand going into their away clash against Hull City on Saturday.
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