Community Focus: Cricket unites Mountainside residents

The annual Mountainside Windball Cricket Competition has become a staple event in the parish of St Elizabeth, and it has played a pivotal role in keeping the community together.

"To us, the Windball Cricket Competition bring the people together, keep the youths them active, and build friendships," said resident Orville Taylor, recently. "So you find that Mountainside is very peaceful."

"We don't have no war or crime, and our community competition help to do that because everyone is involved and considered important."

The competition is the brainchild of Ricky Mullins, who continues to coordinate the annual event that concluded its previous season in November of last year.

PEACE AND HARMONY

"The competition is going strong since 2014, and it brings peace and harmony throughout the area," Mullins noted. "It get the youths them occupied, and more than all, it unites the people."

Eight teams played in the male and female categories last season and vied for trophies and cash prizes. Mullins expects this number to rise in the upcoming season, which will start in the summer and last for about three months.

"Yeah, I get little sponsor. I may go to a Chinese supermarket and get a $10,000 and another man might give $5,000. Then we have to run a cook shop and bar on the side while the competition a play to raise funds," he explained.

"I looking forward to the competition this year, and I hope some corporate companies or somebody would come on board and sponsor the competition," he added.

A fun day was held on Sunday. Teams came out to play a number of friendly matches as part of their pre-season preparation.