MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A historic first has come to the playing fields of Manchester High School, where the campus grounds have been completely reimagined in recent weeks to host the school’s inaugural community night football competition, branded “Under Di Light”.
This fast-paced 7-a-side tournament is the product of a collaborative partnership between the school, local auto dealership Julex Auto Sales, and regional football organizing group Footballin90. The weekly competition kicked off on Sunday, April 19, on Manchester High’s main pitch, and is scheduled to run through a final championship round on June 21.
Okevie Lambert, head football coach at Manchester High, outlined the core mission of the new event in a recent public statement, noting that the title-sponsored tournament has brought a professional-grade match experience to the local area. To date, six squads drawn from nearby communities have competed, drawing large, family-focused crowds of local spectators to the school grounds.
Jasford Gabriel, principal of Manchester High School, described the tournament as a milestone moment not only for the institution but for the entire Manchester region. Calling the event an unprecedented new chapter for the school, Gabriel emphasized that the night football setup creates a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere that offers young people a safe, positive form of recreation.
Beyond providing community entertainment, Gabriel noted the tournament delivers meaningful developmental benefits for participating athletes, and highlighted that Manchester High’s venue is ideally suited for night-time play. “Competing against seasoned former players who have found success in the sport pushes our young athletes to raise their game, and the fast pace of 7v7 play hones their skills faster than many traditional formats,” Gabriel explained. He added that the school’s expansive grounds offer flexible viewing for spectators, with elevated areas close to the pitch that put fans right in the middle of the action, giving the tournament huge long-term growth potential.
Gabriel also reserved special praise for title sponsor Julex Auto Sales and the school’s in-house event organizing team for pulling off the successful launch of the competition. “I cannot thank Julex Auto Sales enough for their commitment to this event. Owner Boswell Smith has a long track record of supporting our school’s programs, and he stepped forward immediately to serve as title sponsor when we first proposed the idea,” Gabriel said. “Smith truly cares about young people in this community, and he consistently invests in their future. What makes this achievement even more impressive is that the organizing team put the entire tournament together in a very short timeline, and the level of operational and event organization has been incredibly high.”