Rusea’s to get state-of-the-art changing room

WESTERN BUREAU:

Stakeholders are ready for Rusea's High School to return to the summit of schoolboy football and high school sports locally after they broke ground for a state-of-the-art changing room facility at the Collin Miller Sports Complex in Lucea, Hanover.

Speaking at last Saturday's official groundbreaking ceremony, president of the Rusea's BrotherSister Foundation, Troy 'Bulla' Malcolm, said the vision is to develop their home facility across the road from the school, into a world-class venue.

"Two years ago, after one of our batchmates passed away, we came together and decided to adopt a project. Initially, it was the bathroom facility because currently there isn't a restroom facility, however, the vision start to expand," Malcolm said.

"I told all the members to Google an (English) Premier League or (Spanish) La Liga team's changing room facility. We decided to build something like those changing room facilities. It will include a conference room and lounge area along with the areas for both teams," he added.

Malcolm is hoping the projects that they have planned for the school will have a huge impact in raising the profile and enhancing the development of sports in the school and community.

"This is just project one of many. We want to build a 30-male and female dorm for our second project, then a paid membership gym for the community that will generate funds for the school for the third project.

"We are just two years old and already breaking ground. This shows the seriousness and intent of the foundation" said Malcolm who also announced a building block drive where everyone associated with Rusea's could contribute a single building block.

"It will be very impactful, knowing that part of our emphasis is to provide holistic development of our students and sports is one such. For our students to perform, serve the community and cater to other stakeholders and teams that will come to play against us, it's best to have this sort of facility. I am looking to collaborate with all past students to make it a major success," Anderson said.

Legendary football coach Emerson 'Diggy' Henry, who led Rusea's to multiple daCosta Cup and Ben Francis Cup knockout titles, said he is proud of the initiative that he believes will see his school get back to the pinnacle of schoolboy football.

"I am proud of the initiative and what it will do for Rusea's, although not pleased with where it will be because it's encroaching on the practice field. I love it because we want to get back to toppling Clarendon College and win the daCosta Cup back," Henry said.

"It's not only for football because they want to build dorms in the future. If you want to recruit, we need these sorts of facilities," he added.

Rusea's have won 15 schoolboy football senior titles including 11 daCosta Cups. They have also had recent success in track and field winning four Western Championships girls' titles in a row, ending in 2019; and a top five placing at the Boys' and Girls' Athletic Championships (Champs) in 2019.