So huge was the crowd that two tents were erected on either side of the church with several big screen televisions to accommodate the unfortunate mourners who arrived late.
People from all walks of life poured in to say goodbye to a man who touched their lives in one way or the other.

Hunt, who died of a heart attack on October 27 after collapsing at his home, was paid the highest respect, as the accolades kept pouring in.

In painful and emotional tributes, Hunt was described as a family man, an excellent coach, a business man, a giant among men, unselfish, passionate, multi-faceted, never-say-die, honest and of the utmost integrity.

The list went on and on and would have even continued into today if the mourners had the time.

While the football fraternity, friends and family grieved and could not hold back their tears, some toddlers across the adjoining Meadowbrook Prep school were prancing around in their bright green, yellow and red physical education gears, oblivious to the fact that Jamaica had lost a man who shaped many young lives through football.

Students from his alma mater Kingston College, Calabar High, Meadowbrook, Norman Manley and Jamaica College turned out in their colours and numbers.

Robert Palmer, who captained Calabar to the Manning Cup and all-island Oliver Shield titles in 2005, was inconsolable. Now 18, Palmer had been under Hunt’s tutelage since he was 10 years-old, winning numerous titles at the Under-13, 15 and Under-17 levels for his school and Meadhaven Football Club.

“The last time I spoke to him it was about Economics and he told me it takes a lot of reading. He always tells us to do the right thing. He was like a father, coach and mentor,” Palmer told the Observer.

The football dignitaries were also there, from Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Capt Horace Burrell to past presidents Crenston Boxhill and Tony James and Hunt’s mentor and former national coaches Winston Chung-Fah, who flew in from Cayman Islands, and Velibor “Bora” Mulutinovic.

Former Prime Minister and chairman of the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA), Edward Seaga, and Derrick Smith, the Minister of Security, were also in attendance.

As the tributes flowed, Burrell, who apologised for the absence of the Minister of Sport, Olivia “Babsy” Grange, said Hunt was always a distinctive figure on any football field with his outstanding height and silver beard.

Said Burrell: “But this distinctive look was far from being the only distinguishing feature of this very outstanding Jamaican.”

Ambassador Stewart Stephenson, the president of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), who worked closely with Hunt, who was his general secretary, could not hold back the tears as he gave his tribute.
Alvin Lue, a close friend of Hunt, said even when Hunt was atop of the football world, he would never forget his friends.
“He was a caring man. Everybody in the community and the football fraternity knew what kind of person he was. He was not a person to beat up his chest and say, ‘I did this and I did that’.”

But it was not all sadness as some of the tributes highlighted the humourous side of Hunt, which had the congregation laughing – if only for a few minutes.

Further tributes came from family members, who shared with the mourners their wonderful time with the man they described as a family man and a great philosopher.

 Source – Jamaica Observer

Jamaica Gleaner’s Coverage 

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If the pictures and words of his charges at Calabar High School were anything to go by, one could assume that Mr Hunt was loved and respected by all. As a matter of fact, it was sobering to see big, strong Manning Cup players holding back tears as they left the room where they were told of Mr Hunt’s death.

It truly is rare to see a man touch the hearts of so many young men in such a positive way. Accolades and condolences were issued from all areas of society, to the man who meant so much to the people with who all he came in contact.

On the 26th of October, Hunt was at his house when he collapsed in his bathroom. He had reportedly just finished playing with his young daughter and had decided to take a bath. His wife was alerted when she heard his phone ringing unanswered. When she went into the bathroom she found him on the floor. He was pronounced dead at the hospital later.

A strict disciplinarian, ‘Wagga’ understood that football was simply a microcosm of society and that once discipline and unity were shown on the field, they could be manifested in other areas of life. He was considered a great mentor and father by both the coaching staff and the players of his teams.

Even though he did not play Manning Cup for his alma mater Kingston College, Hunt has been coaching for over 20 years.
He went to coach Calabar in 2004 where he took them to the finals with a largely young team. He followed up on the achievements of his first year by winning the title in 2005. He also won the all-island Olivier Shield title in that year. He took his team to the ISSA Manning Cup competition finals again in 2006, but they lost to Bridgeport.

Mr Hunt did not only coach Calabar High’s schoolboy team, he was also successful at coaching Super League team Meadhaven United. He won several youth titles over the years with this team at the Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 levels. This led to him being appointed head coach of the Jamaican Under-17 national team. After some encouraging results from some friendlies he became the first Jamaican coach, at any level, to lead a Jamaican team to victory over a United States. Unfortunately, the young Jamaican team hit a snag at the last hurdle and failed to qualify for the Under-17 World Cup finals.

Given all that he has done for the TEENs of this country, life would be much better if we had more ‘Waggas’ in our society. If we had more ‘Waggas’ as teachers, our education system wouldn’t need reforming. And if we had more ‘Waggas’ in our government, we would be experiencing much more success as a nation.

All in all, Mr Hunt, TEENage salutes you. You were an inspiration to us all, and we are thankful that you could have graced us as a people. Finally, “Walk good, Wagga, walk good.”

 Source -  Jamaica Observer

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Calabar, under the coaching of David Hunt, a Kingston College old boy, was fast becoming a football powerhouse to match its well known exploits in track and field. Under the guidance of David, Calabar won the Manning Cup and for the first time won the Olivier Shield. It was therefore, fitting tribute that manager Homer Morgan, new coach, Lijyasu Simms and the footballers dedicated the victory to their beloved and respected coach, David Hunt.

The match was not the best schoolboy football match I have watched. That honour belongs to the Calabar vs Clarendon College (CC) match in the 1970s. We drew with CC in Chapelton and we went to the National Stadium with high hopes. However, led by Lenny ‘Teacher’ Hyde, now coach of Harbour View, we got a fine lesson in playing total football. I have not since seen a schoolboy dominate a football match as Lenny Hyde. Neither have I seen a schoolboy team play better.

Emotional maturity

However, what this year’s Walker Cup Champions lacked in class, they made up with sheer grit, emotional maturity and finishing power. To ask teenagers to play football matches so soon after the death of their coach was asking a bit much. That they did it and won showed supernatural power. To be honest a 3-0 margin flattered Calabar.

Calabar lifting the Olivier Shield in 2005

As saw it, JC had more of the ball possession. However, JC lacked the finishing power. Calabar was strong in defence and the goalkeeper was assured most times. And captain Cleyon Brown was a marvel with a hat trick of goals. It was really a fitting tribute to David.

In the late ’70s, I used to visit the home of the Hunts frequently because my cousins, the Robinsons, were close friends of theirs. But strangely, I did not associate the white-haired and bearded David Hunt with his parents. But I admired David as the coach of Calabar.

As saw it, JC had more of the ball possession.

However, JC lacked the finishing power. Calabar was strong in defence and the goalkeeper was assured most times. And captain Cleyon Brown was a marvel with a hat trick of goals. It was really a fitting tribute to David.

In the late ’70s, I used to visit the home of the Hunts frequently because my cousins, the Robinsons, were close friends of theirs. But strangely, I did not associate the white-haired and bearded David Hunt with his parents. But I admired David as the coach of Calabar.

My admiration grew even more, when, as the under 17 coach, David provided insightful analysis of the game, without berating his players, even when he lost. David had a masters degree in finance, which he never used in the financial sector but instead channelled his analytical mind on the field of play.

What a man

David has the distinction of being the only coach to have led a Jamaican football team to victory over a U.S.A. football team. Nevertheless, he resigned as coach after that feat because his team failed to qualify for the World Cup. He honoured his word to resign if his team did not qualify. What a man!

He did not appear to be in football for fame and fortune. In fact, the Walker Cup final match showed boys who were playing a game for the love of the game.

On Saturday, TVJ, in doing a profile on Captain Horace Burrell, said that after he lost the JFF presidency, he did not attend a football match for four years at the National Stadium involving the Reggae Boyz. I hope that example will not be followed by Boxhill. The example of David Hunt is worthy of emulation by the football fraternity.

Calabar honoured the memory of David Hunt in the manner they played and won the Walker Cup final.

By Rev. Devon Dick

Source – Jamaica Gleaner

About Rev Devon Dick

Rev. Devon Dick is Pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church, Chairman of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust, author of Rebellion to Riot and a regular columnist in the Gleaner.

Read more about Devon Dick

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“He was a great mentor, a great coach, a father, everything. It is hard to explain, but we have done it for him,” he added.
After looking the more likely to score in the first-half, JC found themselves a goal behind six minutes before the break.
However, Ramone Palmer had earlier found the net for JC 15 minutes into the match, but he was ruled offside.

The midfielder then had another gloirious opportunity on the half-hour, after he intercepted a backpass from Ricardo Lattibeaudiere, but with only goalkeeper Oneil Wilson to beat, he put his effort wide of the upright.
Calabar had good possession but rarely had a clear chance at goal.

But Brown put his team ahead after taking down a ball over the JC defence and fired an arrow-straight shot into the goal at Oliver Walker’s near-post.

Jamaica College came out in the second-half searching for an eqauliser, but fell further behind when Brown skipped around last man, Renardo Stewart, before slipping the ball past Walker in goal.

However, going two goals down did not dampen the dark-blues’ spirits, as they kept driving forward and had a number of opportunties in which to get back a goal.

Robert Palmer should have reduced the deficit early in the second half, but he redirected De Andre Brown’s cross just wide of the upright from six yards.

Brown then had a well-taken free kick turned out for a corner as JC stepped up their game.

With Calabar on the back-foot, Akeem Bennett then raced into the box from midfield, but with time and space, his execution left a lot to be desired from 12 yards.

Calabar put the game out of JC’s reach with nine minutes remaining when Brown took down a ball from Aljay Cole, worked his way past two defenders before poking home, albeit from a deflection.

“They came out and fight from start to finish and played like true Calabar lions… and I am very proud of the guys,” Simms added.

Jamaica College’s Alfred Henry said the better team on the day won.

“Congratulations to Calabar, they did well under the circumstances and I think they played harder than we did today and they deserved the win,” he said.

“But the missed chances set us back a great deal and we lost one of our key players (Ramone Palmer), so that threw us off our rhythm,” he added.

Hat trick hero Brown said: “This was the dream of the coach, so we had to come here and do it for him.”

Source – Jamaica Observer

Click Here to read the Gleaner’s coverage

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The others are playmaker Ramone Palmer, Kemal Bedward and Adrian Christian. They will face-off against their former team-mates in what is expected to be a keenly-contested affair.

According to one Calabar fan, “Wagga had predicted this”, and for JC coach, Alfred Henry, the match will be an emotional one as the late Calabar coach, David Hunt, was a close and longtime friend and Calabar are also out to win the trophy for their former coach.

In the feature match, JC College looked the more threatening of the teams at the start and went ahead after half-an-hour when Grant raced onto a ball played over the Excelsior defence and shot across goalkeeper Ameal Douglas into the far corner.

Excelsior had little to show in the first half, but ended the game strongly with Alanzo Adlam, Severo Murphy and Valentino Fogo all getting good chances to salvage a goal.

Earlier, Calabar continued on their quest to win the Walker Cup – the only title that eluded Hunt during his three-and-a-half-year tenure – after getting by Manning Cup holders Bridgeport.

In an entertaining affair, both teams had good goalscoring chances, but neither capitalised at the end of regulation time.
But five minutes into the second period of extra-time, Sinclair’s side-footer from 25 yards slipped from goalkeeper Geovanni Smith’s grasp and sneaked over the line.

 Source – Jamaica Observer

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Earlier, in the another quarter-final, Excelsior pumped seven unanswered goals past Camperdown. Calabar’s team manager, Homer Morgan, said after a busy and emotional week in which the team played four matches and lost their coach, they did well to win.

“We tried our best to come here and play for coach today… Never say die, that was a motto he left with the boys,” Morgan told reporters.

“The boys were cramping up because they had a busy week last week, where we played about four matches. But we told them that Mr Hunt was a person who would tell them that no matter what is happening they have to be focused.
“So we showed them that, and as you see today they came out and all of them wanted to win this one for the coach,” he stated.

He continued that the team will not need any more motivation for the rest of the season. “They are highly motivated. The Calabar fraternity would also like to take the opportunity to tell his family the we are there with you. And right now Mr Hunt is an honorary Old Boy of Calabar and today we dedicate this match to him,” he added.

Calabar were the better team for the first half and had a number of chances to take the lead.

Their best opportunity fell to Brown midway the half, after he was released by Hyde from midfield, but he kicked straight to goalkeeper Diego Haughton.

STATHS started the second-half brightly after failing to really threaten a hard-running Calabar side in the first period.
But that momentum did not last long, and nine minutes into the half Hyde rose above the STATHS defence to head home a cross from the pint-sized Aljay Cole to put Calabar in front.

Three minutes later, Brown picked up a ball on top of the area and waltz through three defenders before hammering a low shot pass Haughton, to put his team 2-0 up.

The Red Hills Road side lifted their game after the goal, and Brown came close with an acrobatic effort, while Hyde crashed free-kick against the post, which hit Haughton, who reacted quickly to prevent to ball going over the line.

In the 76th minute Brown had an appeal for penalty turned down by referee Hughill Thompson, and immediately against the run of play, St Andrew’s Akeem Simpson sped away down field where he was cut down inside the box by Michael Montgomery.

Thompson awarded a penalty and Charlton slammed home the spot-kick for STATHS to cut the deficit.
In the first match, Leon Powell Bagged a hat-trick as Excelsior romped to victory over Camperdown.

Powell netted in the first and fifth minute, while Alanzo Adlam scored in the 16th as Excelsior led 3-0 at the break.

Powell completed his hat-trick in the 59th, while another goal from Adlam in the 69th, plus one each from Severo Murphy (61st) and Ricardo Scott (74th) sealed the victory.

“We scored early and that knocked Camperdown off their rhythm and they never recovered,” said winning coach Leebert Halliman.

The semi-finals are set for tomorrow at Stadium East.
In the first match at 1:00 pm, Jamaica College entertain Excelsior and at 3:00 pm, Calabar go up against Bridgeport high.

Source – Jamaica Observer

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