Street Xtream revs up community spirit with football tournament
Published:Saturday | April 13, 2024 | 12:07 AMKeisha Hill/Senior Gleaner Writer
With the thrill, excitement, and adrenaline rush associated with car racing, who would have thought that behind the gleaming metal and roaring engines lies a group of individuals dedicated to improving their community?
Street Xtream is a community with members continuously exchanging knowledge, sharing expertise, collaborating on projects, and fostering an environment where everyone, can learn and grow in their automotive journey.
The group recently organised the third edition of a 6-A-Side Car Teams Football Tournament in collaboration with Travelr Taxi Service at Jogo Bonito, located in Portmore Pines, St Catherine. This year, six teams took part in the event: Street Xtream, Epic Lifestyle, Unique Transformers, Civic Society, Street Machine, and 876 Stay Humble.
Marlon ‘Marlando Brando’ Brown, leader of the Street Xtream team and the primary organiser of the event, noted that during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of car groups dwindled, and their participation declined at various events.
“We wanted to bring back the love and get persons involved in the car community [whether they were] members, non-members [or are simply] car enthusiasts. This football tournament has brought car groups, the community, supporters and sponsors [together] for a time of camaraderie, knowledge and development,” Brown told GoodHeart.
Street Xtream consists of over 50 members with various modified cars. Their mission is to fuel the heartbeat of Jamaican car culture by fostering a vibrant community of automotive enthusiasts.
“We are committed to celebrating the diversity of vehicles and styles, providing a platform for shared knowledge, and creating unforgettable experiences that resonate with the passion and individuality of our members. Through respect, camaraderie, and a commitment to continuous improvement, we aim to drive the evolution of car culture in Jamaica, one ride at a time,” Brown said.
The group has also been instrumental in organising and hosting school tours twice per year, with their most recent at Jamaica College in December 2023. The next tour is scheduled for May 5, this year Pembroke Hall High School.
Additionally, the group has participated in the Bert’s 5K Walk/Run, International Coastal Clean-Up, and the Vision 2030 Clean-Up.
After an exciting day of competition and car display, 876 Stay Humble were crowned champions of the football tournament, in which they won 3-0 against Epic Lifestyle. Civic Society placed third with a 2-1 win over Street Xtream.
Romario McPherson of 876 Stay Humble received an award for the top goal scored, while the Most Clean Sheet Award went to Tazio Nooks, team captain at 876 Stay Humble.
Stephanie Bent-Bucknor said they were elated to give back to the community and were pleased with the turnout from the car groups and community members.
“Everybody in our community is a family. We call on each other for advice and expertise; and our members benefit in various ways. We are happy that we were able to share our philanthropic efforts with the community. It was a joy to see how everything came together and everyone was happy,” Bent-Bucknor shared.
Other sponsors of the event included Ace Dynamics, She Likes Cars Ja, Meliboo Unique Kloset, Eight76 Accessories, Mighty Brainz Media (Photographer), KnS Auto Ltd, Brillo Beauty Ja, Led Innovation Ja, Outlaw Edition, Wisynco and Samiz Creations.