The 2024 edition of the David “Wagga” Hunt Football Classic is set to kick off this Saturday, August 17, at the UWI Mona Bowl, promising an afternoon of thrilling football action and a celebration of legacy. The event, now in its 14th year, will feature three highly anticipated matchups that highlight the enduring impact of David "Wagga" Hunt on Jamaican football and his commitment to youth development.

 The day’s activities will begin at 2:00 PM with a clash between the UWI Pelicans and St. Georges Masters, setting the stage for what promises to be an action-packed event. Following this, the home team August Town, representing the Super League, will face off against Premier League giants Harbour View. The excitement will reach its peak with the feature match at 4:30 PM, as Kingston College takes on their long-time rivals, Calabar High School, in a preseason classic that is sure to ignite the competitive spirit of both teams.

 The David "Wagga" Hunt Football Classic is more than just a series of football matches; it is a tribute to the late David “Wagga” Hunt, a revered figure in Jamaican football. Hunt, an alumnus of Kingston College, is best remembered for his transformative work at Calabar High School, where he revived the football program and led the team to its first Manning Cup and Olivier Shield titles in 28 years in 2005. His mantra, “We can be rivals, not enemies,” exemplified the sportsmanship and unity he championed throughout his career. Since his untimely passing in 2007, the Classic has served as a platform to preserve his legacy and continue his mission of empowering youth through sport.

 The Football Classic is a crucial event for the David “Wagga” Hunt Foundation, which was established in 2008 by Hunt’s family and friends to support needy students from Kingston College and Calabar High School. The Foundation’s scholarship program, which began in 2009, awards two grade eight students from each school with a scholarship valued at J$150,000.00 annually, covering books, lunch, and other related expenses through to grade 13. Over the years, the Foundation has awarded 46 scholarships totaling J$22.4 million, along with an additional J$4 million in direct support to the schools. Each scholarship recipient also receives a computer to aid in their studies. Selection criteria for the scholarships include financial need, academic performance, participation in sports or extracurricular activities, attendance, deportment, and discipline, ensuring that the recipients embody the values that Hunt held dear.

 The Football Classic is part of a trio of events organized by the David “Wagga” Hunt Foundation each year, alongside the prestigious Red Carpet Fundraising Ball in Washington, D.C., and the Annual Scholarship Awards ceremony in Jamaica. Christopher Hunt, David’s brother, spearheads the Foundation’s efforts from Washington, leading the Diaspora team behind the Red Carpet Ball. Meanwhile, the Jamaica Organizing Team, led by Co‐Chair Arnold “Dullo” McDonald, oversees the Football Classic and the Scholarship Awards Ceremony, ensuring the smooth execution of these significant events.

Corporate sponsorship has played a vital role in sustaining the David “Wagga” Hunt Foundation’s mission, with Victoria Mutual being a steadfast supporter since the Foundation’s inception. Other key sponsors include Supreme Ventures Limited, Proven Wealth Management, Grace Foods USA, and the Gibson McCook Relays Committee, along with numerous other corporate and individual donors who contribute to the ongoing funding of the scholarships.

As the 2024 David “Wagga” Hunt Football Classic approaches, anticipation is building for what promises to be a day filled with competitive football, camaraderie, and a reaffirmation of the values that David Hunt championed throughout his life. The event not only honors his legacy but also continues to provide critical support to the next generation of Jamaican students, ensuring that Hunt’s impact on the lives of young people endures for years to come.

The 12th Annual David “Wagga” Hunt Football Classic kicks off on Saturday, August 20, at 4:00 pm with a clash between defending Manning Cup and Olivier Shield Champions Kingston College and Calabar High School at Calabar High School on Red Hills Road in Kingston.

The goodwill game is the David “Wagga” Hunt Scholarship Foundation’s way of reintroducing the Classic following the two-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Classic was established in 2009 in honour of the late David “Wagga” Hunt, a KC alum, who was a football coach and is also credited with reviving the sport at Calabar.

In 2005, Hunt coached Calabar to their first ever Manning Cup title in 28 years. Calabar also won the coveted Olivier Shield title that year.

The Classic is seen as a unifying force, emblematic of the generosity of spirit and community that Hunt embodied.

Hunt’s dedication to working with youth is the driving force behind the preservation of his legacy since his death in 2007. His mantra for the long-running rivalry between the schools was, “We can be rivals, not enemies.”

Since his passing, the foundation created in his memory offers scholarships to deserving students of both schools.

“I am very proud of the work the DWH Foundation has done since inception and I am eagerly looking forward to our abbreviated Classic, which will be our 12th staging,” said Christopher Hunt, David’s younger, who is also co-chair of the Washington, DC, based foundation.

He disclosed that for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year, the foundation 24 will benefit from scholarships valued at USD$17,000 (J$2.4 million).

“I am very proud and appreciative that we are able to continue to keep David’s memory alive while impacting our boys from both schools,” Christopher said.

Since 2009 the scholarship initiative has disbursed approximately US$5,000 (J$700,000) per selected student, from grades 8 to 13, to defray costs of tuition, books, lunch, technology assistance, and other school-related expenses.

To date, 35 scholarships exceeding US$115,000 (J$16 million) have been awarded to recipients, who are selected based on academic performance and attitude, involvement in extracurricular activities and need.

Through the years, corporate donors based in Jamaica have supported the foundation’s work. They include VM Group, Supreme Ventures Limited, Proven Wealth and the Gibson McCook Relays.

Overseas sponsors GraceKennedy Foods (USA), Steuart Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Spencer Financial, and McIntosh & Associates complete the complement of corporate donors.

All fund the scholarships on an ongoing basis. 

“I wish to express heartfelt gratitude to our corporate and individual sponsors for sticking with us throughout the Covid-19 pandemic despite the constraints,” said Arnold “Dullo” McDonald, co-chair of the foundation’s Jamaica chapter.

“We thank our supporters and spectators of the annual football classic as well.  The goodwill game is being presented as a show of appreciation. We hope they enjoy this in-person event.”

The premier fundraising event of the David 'Wagga' Hunt Scholarship Foundation, (DWHF), The “Jamaica David 'Wagga' Hunt Annual Red Carpet Ball,” will be held virtually this year, on Sunday, January 31, 2021, at 7:00 PM and will be streamed live on YouTube.