Wellington: The importance of ‘student’ in student-athlete

AS THE Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) called a close to the schoolboy football season last weekend with their All-Stars exhibition games, ISSA president Keith Wellington sought to remind student-athletes of the importance of education.

Wellington stated the association remains steadfast in its commitment to both sporting and academic excellence.

He made the address at the ISSA/SBF Awards ceremony on Friday at Summit Kingston.

“We continue as an organisation to be insistent that our priorities for our players must be their education,” the president stated.

Wellington said it is very important for student-athletes to keep their education as a priority alongside their performances on the field.

He said as they look to leave high school, their education will play a vital role in making the next step in their careers as well as their long-term futures.

“For those who believe that they are at the stage that they have already decided that they want to play football and nothing else, we encourage you to be a part of one of our semi-professional clubs and go where you are earning something,” Wellington advised.

“An education stays with you for life and it continues to pay you back. When you get to 65 and you retire and you’re collecting your pension, it is because you were educated and you got a good job that pays a pension.”

ISSA has continued their partnership with the Caribbean Premier Showcase (CPS) to help provide opportunities for players to continue their education at a tertiary level.

The CPS, spearheaded by Oniqueky Samuels, is an organisation which hosts scouts and coaches from overseas to recruit Caribbean players who are set to leave high school.

Wellington values the partnership as he believes it is an excellent way for athletes to continue their careers while pursuing an education.

“We have partnered with the Caribbean Premier Showcase for another year to get all these coaches here to provide an opportunity for you to showcase your talent so that you can get the opportunity to continue your education.”

Samuels said the partnership with ISSA is seen as a major boost for CPS as it allows for the best athletes in the schoolboy football competitions to have a platform to pursue their future.

“It is very important because we have to take care of that transitional period for these young high school students,” Samuels stated.

“We, as an organisation, are doing a really good job in getting the right talent. We’re working in collaboration with ISSA to getting the All-Manning Cup team and getting the All-daCosta Cup team here, so it really makes a lot of sense.”