By Samuel Peters
In a touching tribute to the late Patrick C Whyte, former director of schools’ football, the Ministry of Sports Under-20 League Cup has been renamed in his honour. The tournament was renamed at the recently held opening ceremony on Friday at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
Present at the ceremony was his son Jon Whyte, a former youth footballer who represented the national team, and who reflected on the significance of the moment. “It’s a great honour to have this league cup named after my father,” he said. “My mother and I were able to witness it, providing us with an opportunity to reflect on his legacy and the immense dedication he showed to school football during his tenure as director.”
The event highlighted the continued emphasis on the holistic development of young athletes.
Heather Samuel-Daly, the current director, reiterated the importance of balancing athletics, academics, and discipline – a message that echoed Patrick Whyte’s own philosophy.
For Whyte’s son, the ceremony was particularly poignant. “It was good to watch it all come full circle,” he remarked, noting his own history as a product of the same school football leagues. He fondly recalled familiar faces, including Mr. Rowan ‘Porridge’ Benjamin and Mr. Amir Hourani from Cool & Smooth, who have been involved with the league since his father’s time.
In conjunction with the league’s renaming, a one-time academic scholarship was proposed to commemorate the occasion. The top player in the league who excels academically will be awarded a scholarship worth $4,000.00. When asked about the possibility of making this scholarship a recurring initiative, Whyte’s son expressed optimism. “I’ve already been in touch with Mr. Hourani about the possibility of doing it in subsequent years,” he stated. “It’s something my mother has been encouraging as well.”
The family sees this potential ongoing scholarship as a way to continue Patrick White’s legacy. “Mr. Whyte contributed to sports in life, and he will continue to contribute to sports even after he’s gone,” his son explained. “We’ll try to make arrangements to see how we can continue to support in his name.”
