It was smiles all around today as Canada’s men’s national team joined His Excellency Mr. H.E. Stephen Hallihan, Canada’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, in making a donation of soccer balls to a local soccer team. The August Town Elementary School football team was invited by the High Commission and Canada’s men’s national team to watch Canada’s Saturday training session in Kingston, Jamaica. Following the session, the young team was invited onto the pitch to receive their new equipment and to meet Canada’s international stars.
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\u200b\u0093A couple of themes that are very important here in Jamaica and tie into the work we do at the High Commission are youth and sports,\u0094 said High Comissioner Hallihan. \u0093When we heard that the Canadian national team was coming down to play the national team of Jamaica, we took the opportunity to bring this team from one of the primary schools in inner-city Kingston down to watch how the professionals play. I know the players will take some of the things they saw our guys do on the field today back with them into their season.\u0094
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\u200bCanada’s head of delegation Mr. Steven Reed presented High Commissioner Hallihan with a Canadian jersey which the High Commissioner promptly pulled over his head.
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\u200bThe Canadian men’s national team is in Kingston, Jamaica ahead of its international friendly match with Jamaica on Sunday. The match is scheduled to kick off at 18.00 local time (18.00 ET / 15.00 PT) from the National Stadium. The match will mark new head coach Stephen Hart’s first fixture since taking the helm of Canada’s men’s national team in early December.
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\u200bIn addition to formally presenting the young soccer players with their new soccer balls, the Canadian squad also surprised the youth team with Canadian pins and pennants. The team then signed autographs before boarding the bus to return to the team hotel.