Ballaz International Group director Andre Virtue paid tribute to former Netball Jamaica president Marva Bernard after she offered world of wisdom and guidance to the team at Ballaz Academy on Friday.
Bernard addressed the coaching and management staff at the academy alongside current Sunshine Girls representative Shanice Beckford.
“Marva Bernard shared her wisdom, passion and love for sports, reminding us of the importance of people, development and purpose,” the academy said in an Instagram post.
“Her words encouraged and challenged our coaches and management staff, reinforcing our mission to help every young person both on and off the field,” the post continued.
Virtue, who founded the organization back in 2002, was grateful for the wisdom of Bernard.
“As we started this year at Ballaz Academy, I wanted a new voice. I wanted a voice that could encourage, inspire, and challenge the Ballaz team! So many names came to my mind, but serendipity brought Aunty Marva to my mind. To some, notwithstanding her obvious expertise and experience, she may not seem to some like "that voice". Afterall, we're football, she is Netball,” Virtue shared.
“But for me - the voice of Marva Bernard transcends every sport. Her wisdom and depth of experience is unmatched. And what she shared with us as a team has encouraged us and challenged us! She understands the people of sport, the business of sport and the power of sport,” he added.
Going further, Virtue said Bernard’s words reminded him about the underlying goal of the academy, to see young people become their best selves both on and off the field, rather than focusing on monetary gain.
“Personally, it reminded me to stick to my personal commitment that Ballaz is and will always take the stand for people over profit, my players over trophies, development over winning and LOVE as the foundation of what we do. By doing that, trust me, we will continue to win. Definitely, we want to continue to lift trophies and watch players go on to collegiate and professional careers but the pathway to get there is paved a bit differently at Ballaz. And I am 100% okay with that,” he said.
“Sport is about people. Ballaz is, and will always be about every child or young person that comes to us developing and growing not only in the beautiful game but in character, family and faith!”