The Prisons’ Behind The Walls Five-a-side Street Soccer Tournament 2023 kicked off on Wednesday with B Block getting the better of A Block to secure a 1- nil win.
Terron Prince scored the lone goal in the 18th minute.
C Block will meet D Block today (Thursday) at Belle Isle Correctional Facility Hard Court at 9:30 a.m.
Coordinator, Meldon James, a retired station sergeant of police who served for 31 years, now volunteers some of his time to rehabilitation through sports and drama at the prisons.
The tournament is being held under the theme “Free On The Inside (It’s a mind thing)” and the motto is “Don’t waste time while doing time”.
James said he started in 2015 as a Bible distribution programme because it was his dream that when a prisoner is discharged, he or she should leave with a Bible.
“In 2020, a Bible study session was added every Tuesday. Since then, four prisoners were baptised,” James said.
“From 2019, they were engaged in a soccer game against police every December at Victoria Park. In 2022, after my retirement, I took over the coaching of the prison team and it was the first time the prison won against the police,” James said.
Great initiative. Congratulations