For years, the Pocket Rocket Foundation's six-a-side football tournament brought life and joy to the Waterhouse community in Kingston, using a beloved community playground as its home base. In 2024, however, the tournament was relocated to Red Stripe on Spanish Town Road, as that playground became the site of a major development project. Now, there's good news on the horizon.

Fesco markets and distributes petroleum products and distributes to retail customers through a growing network of service stations across the length and breadth of Jamaica. They also provide efficient, reliable bulk fuel to the manufacturing, construction and transportation industries.

A key sponsor of the foundation’s six-a-side tournament, Fesco acquired the property on which it is now building a new service station facility that is expected to house fast-food restaurants and other amenities.  As part of that development, the company is also constructing a state-of-the-art six-a-side football field and a community homework centre equipped with free Wi-Fi—both of which are expected to be completed by September 2025.

“We’re building the service station on what used to be the football field, so it only made sense to give the community back a space to play,” said Stefan Ebanks Head of Business Development, Sales, Marketing & Communication at Fesco. “The six-a-side field is part of the plan.”

When asked about the timeline, Ebanks confirmed, “Everything should be open by September this year. The field is part of the overall development. We’re coordinating the timeline to ensure the station and the sports facility are both ready.”

The initiative was not an afterthought or a response to community concerns, but rather an integral part of the project from the outset.

The area earmarked for the installation of the Astro-turf football field (partially obscured).

“From day zero, that football field was always part of the plan,” said Jeremy Barnes, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at FESCO. “There’s not a single iteration of the architectural drawings that didn’t include it. We knew we were taking over a field, so it only made sense to give one back—only better. We’re putting in Astro-turf, lights so it can be used after hours, and we’re also adding a homework centre with free Wi-Fi.”

The decision to add the homework centre emerged during early consultations with the community. “When we shared the first concept with the community, they loved it and suggested adding the homework centre. We immediately thought it was a great idea,” Barnes said. “We want kids to have a space where they can do their homework, get access to the internet, and feel safe.”

FESCO has also extended its support to the Waterhouse Youth Football Club, reflecting a wider mission of community development. “Yes, we’re sponsors of the Waterhouse youth team as well,” Barnes said. “We support various initiatives in the communities we serve, even if we don’t always publicize it. It’s not about promotion—it’s about giving back and doing our part to build something positive.”

He added, “We want this to be a destination the entire community can be proud of. We’re not just building a gas station. We’re creating a space where people can play ball, do homework, shoot a music video, or just hang out safely. We did it at Beechwood, we did it at Ferry, and now we’re doing it here. We want people to pass by and say, ‘That’s a Jamaican brand. That’s ours.’”

Member of Parliament for St. Andrew Western, Anthony Hylton, confirmed the development as part of negotiations with FESCO to ensure the Waterhouse community retained a valuable recreational space. “In the same site, a six-a-side field is being built,” he said. “That’s what we negotiated, and that’s what I’ve seen in the plan. It’s part of the development.”

Hylton explained that while the land had historically been used by the community, it was privately owned, limiting the government's ability to intervene. “I couldn’t stop the private person who held title to the land from developing it, but what we did do is meet with them and negotiate a field on the site. At their cost, they’re building a field that we’ll be able to use for the six-a-side tournament,” he said.

He also confirmed that the project is nearing completion. “It’s very advanced. All of the infrastructure is in place. They’ve even pulled down much of the fencing. It’s now all going into the finishing,” said Hylton.

Pending the outcome of ongoing discussions between Fesco and Fraser-Pryce’s representatives, the six-a-side competition is expected to return to Waterhouse for its next edition, bringing back the positive energy and camaraderie that have made it one of the community’s most cherished annual events.