Donaldson hails ‘ahead-of-their-time’ Bell, Ziadie
Reggae Girlz coach one of four honourees at annual Bell/Ziadie Memorial
Published:Wednesday | September 20, 2023 | 12:09 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
REGGAE GIRLZ coach Lorne Donaldson said former national coaches Winthrope ‘Jackie’ Bell and Dennis Ziadie, who served in the late 1970s and ‘80s, were ahead of their time.
Donaldson, who guided the Reggae Girlz to the second round of the Women’s World Cup this summer, and who will be one of four honouress at the annual Bell/Ziadie football festival at St George’s College on October 16, said the two, although contrasting in personalities, were a perfect match and he thought their passing was a loss for Jamaican football.
“Jackie was the most fiery person I know. Even when Santos was winning he was still fiery. I trained for Jackie a little bit in the Jamaica national team in 1979 but I didn’t play a match under him because myself, Martin Woodstock, the late Bancroft Gordon, and a few players left Jamaica for other opportunities. But Jackie was as fiery a man as I have seen. He would fight anybody who wants a fight.
“Dennis was a good match for Jackie because he was calm as ice. Ziadie was helping Jackie with the national team.
“In 1973-74 the Manning Cup was suspended and we played practice games instead. Ziadie was coaching JC [Jamaica College] and as a coach he made me start to analyse the game. The style that Ziadie was playing at the time was ahead of his time. We (KC) played a game at Kirkvine (against JC) and we drew 1-1 but we couldn’t touch the ball. So we saw that Ziadie was different. So if we had these two gentlemen at the latter stages of their lives, then football in Jamaica would be at a different level,” explained Donaldson.
Donaldson is in the island preparing the Reggae Girlz for a home-and-away tie against Canada, beginning on Friday at Sabina Park.
The pair died in a bus accident in Mexico at the 1986 World Cup and 37 years later, Masters and Celebrities founder and organiser, Clive ‘Busy’ Campbell, continues to hold the game each year in memory of the two Jamaican greats.
Campbell praised Donaldson for his accomplishments with the Reggae Girlz and forecast even more success under his leadership.
“To Coach Lorne Donaldson, one of our honourees, a job well done, and we expect bigger and greater things from the Reggae Girlz under your guidance,” he stated.
This year, Campbell will also recognise three other stalwarts who have contributed to the development of local football.
Along with Donaldson, Calvin ‘Webba’ Stewart, former Cavalier and national player; Cornel ‘Granny’ Marshall, former St George’s and national player; and Othniel ‘Dolphy’ Gordon, curator at Jamaica College, will also be honoured.
The four participating teams include Christian Ambassadors, St George’s College Old Boys, a referees invitational and a Masters and Celebrities/Entertainer team.
Nick Ziadie, son of Dennis, also praised Donaldson for his role in helping many local talents make it into professional football in the United States.
“I want to congratulate Lorne for what he did with the Reggae Girlz. It has been 30-odd years since my father and Jackie passed away and yesterday (Monday) was the one-year anniversary of my brother’s passing, and it is fitting that this is happening today. This has helped to keep their names alive and carry on their legacies,” he said.