• Synthetic football turf to be installed at The UWI, Mona

As part of its on‐going strategic plan for sports development, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Global Soccer Ministries (GSM) International through which GSM will install a synthetic turf field with lights on the Campus. The turf will provide an all‐year field for football training at Mona.
 
The MOU was signed by UWI, Mona Principal, Professor Archibald McDonald, and CEO and President of Global Soccer Ministries International, Mr. Paul Banta, at a ceremony held Wednesday, May 21, 2014 in the Principal’s Conference Room at Mona.
 
The MOU provides for implementation of a series of initiatives aimed at the development and promotion of football in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. Under the terms of the agreement, Global Soccer Ministries International will provide a synthetic turf field with lights, and create and develop a state of the art training centre for youth with an emphasis on educating and developing youth football players holistically. GSM will also teach and equip local football coaches to be effective leaders/mentors in the game, changing the way they coach and lead their players. The aim is to continue to impact the quality of football in Jamaica as well as to create a youth football development system that will enhance Jamaican youth players for years to come.
 
Commenting on the MOU, Professor McDonald noted that this was an important development for the Mona Campus as it would provide students with access to a world class football field.
 
In response, Mr. Banta said that GSM had already established artificial turf fields in Guatemala and Belize, and planned to lay other turfs across Jamaica once the initial project was underway.