Patrick Chin with Chung Fah's widow Barbara (left) and daughterApril
Tribute to a great man — Winston Chung Fah
The time that we as humans spend on earth is relatively short. But the impact that we make on peoples’ lives during this time is what is important, as our accomplishments and deeds are what will be permanently recorded in history and engraved in the minds and hearts of those who have benefited from these unselfish acts, or who have witnessed the positive effects they have had on society on a whole.
Undoubtedly, the life of Winston Chung Fah deserves pride of place in this humanitarian service category in Jamaica, as he has relentlessly devoted his entire tenure on earth to improving the status of youth, primarily in the inner cities, through access to education and the development of their inborn skills in the sport of football.
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Born on December 3, 1939 in Blackwoods, Clarendon, Winston grew up in Rae Town, a so-called lowly area of society, and not only observed the injustices and deprivation meted out to the peoples of these communities but also experienced the degradation of exclusion and the stigma of being labelled “undesirables” and “underprivileged”.
I grew up in a neighbouring humble community. However, our paths did not cross until I had reached adolescence and began representing my high school in the sport of football, which became the binding force between Winston and me.
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With the passage of time, the vast majority in these communities had grown to accept this horrifying mental indoctrination, and resigned themselves to a life of menial existence.
Some of the youth, however, rebelled against this lifestyle and took matters into their own hands by resorting to a life of crime and violence, which only resulted in their untimely demise or their withdrawal from society through incarceration.
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Moved by these occurrences, Winston, in a joint effort with one of the more influential youth in the community, established the Doncaster-Rovers Football Club, which participated in the Division Two competition run by the Jamaica Football Association (JFA). This other young man, by sheer determination and hard work, eventually became the auditor general of Jamaica.
After a period of two years, Winston parted company with this club and individually took on the challenge to change the status quo that had existed throughout the entire life of several generations before him. His first course of action was to gather the youth and to hone their skills in the sport of football, which was one of his passions although he, himself, lacked the innate skills to perform at the level he aspired to.
It was not difficult for Winston to attract these youth, as football was played on every street or vacant lot in these communities on a daily basis. He therefore got together a representative group of youngsters of varying ages, including myself, to participate in youth club competitions organised by the Sports Development Commission, an arm of the Ministry of Youth. This yielded immediate success as the team was victorious in these competitions.
This led Winston to formally establish the Santos Football Club in June 1964 and to apply for entry in the competitions organised by the JFA. His application was duly accepted and the club was registered to participate in the Division Two and Division Three competitions.
Upon winning the Division Two competition, the club automatically gained promotion to Division One, which it duly won in 1968 and 1969, including the Senior Knockout Competition — which was contested by clubs on an islandwide basis.
To fully appreciate the magnitude of these performances, it must be explained that the other competing teams were comprised of adults, many of whom were members of the national football squad.
During this time, Winston was diligently seeking opportunities for these youth to obtain a formal education in our high schools and, while pursuing this initiative, he had garnered the support of several teachers and well-wishers who had volunteered their services to conduct classes for these youth in the night, free of charge. These classes were conducted at a primary school in the inner city, having obtained permission from the administrators of the school and gaining the full support of the entire community, which ensured that the children took advantage of this opportunity.
This was indeed a new beginning and hope for these vulnerable youth, thrown a lifeline by one of their own community members who cared and was determined to change the fortunes of the future generations.
As far as Winston was concerned, this was only the first step of a journey that would have discouraged any ordinary person. But Winston was no ordinary man, and by sheer determination he was successful in convincing the principal of Vere Technical High School in Clarendon and, subsequently, Clarendon College, to offer scholarships to several youth who had acquired the necessary qualifications for entry in high school. In addition, these youth possessed a wealth of talent in football, that would positively impact the school’s participation in the football competition which is vigorously contested by all the secondary schools in the island.
At different intervals these two schools dominated football competition for many years and, while still attending school, several of these youth gained selection to the national football squad and subsequently went on to play professionally overseas.
Noted among these is Allan “Skill” Cole, arguably the best football talent that has been produced in Jamaica and who is probably the only Jamaican to have received a contract to play professionally in Brazil.
During this era, Winston was offered the position as coach of the Clarendon College football squad, and the success and consequent fame that these schools achieved in football during that time is still a lively topic of discussion by enthusiasts of the game as to which school had produced the best team.
It was indeed gratifying to have witnessed the tremendous success that was achieved by one man’s strong desire and conviction to ensure that access to education is provided to these children, who, under previous circumstances, would not have survived the challenges that would have confronted them in a very disparaging and hostile environment.
Having passed on the mantle of coach of Santos Football Club to a qualified successor, Winston went on to pursue higher qualification in the coaching of football in Britain and Europe, and, subsequently he was recruited by the Cayman Football Association to manage its national squad, following which he went on to establish other football clubs in that island.
In 2012, FIFA, the world governing body for football, bestowed on Winston their highest award of the Order of Merit for his contribution to football.
In 2013 Winston also received the Commander of the Order of Distinction from the Government of Jamaica, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to and accomplishment in the development of football in Jamaica.
Although Winston achieved unprecedented success in football, particularly in the area of coaching, he was still not satisfied to rest on his laurels and, despite his failing health, was diligently working to establish a football academy in Jamaica — which would provide the foundation for youth to jointly pursue academic and sporting excellence, primarily in football.
However, the Good Lord, in His wisdom, despite allowing extra time to be played in the life of Winston, even as he was plagued by major illnesses in the latter years of his life, decided that he had performed excellently and had excelled beyond all expectations, despite the odds, and therefore blew the final whistle to end an outstanding career in the service of his fellowman.
Winston, you have fought the good fight.
Rest well, my friend.
Footnote : It is my personal belief that one of Winston’s major accomplishments was when the Lord smiled on him and allowed him to become the husband of Barbara.
I am sure there is a medal awaiting her in Heaven.
Winston was the best man at my wedding 46 years ago and I was privileged to be the godfather of one of his daughters.
