Jahshii, Laa Lee, Nesbeth to headline Bell/Ziadie matches
Published:Monday | October 20, 2025 | 12:10 AMLivingston Scott/ - Gleaner Writer
Entertainers Jahshii, Laa Lee and Nesbeth will once again headline the Masters and Celebrities team for the annual Bell/Ziadie Memorial football matches at Winchester Park today, starting at 1:30 p.m.
The Masters and Celebrities list also includes former national football star Walter Boyd and entertainer Aidonia; however, their appearances are not totally guaranteed, said organiser Clive ‘Busy’ Campbell.
Three other teams will be competing on Heroes Day for Bell/Ziadie Trophy, including Christian Ambassadors, St George’s College Invitational and Referees.
This year’s 40th staging continues to keep alive the memories of the two local football icons, both former players and coaches.
The pair unexpectedly died while attending the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, after a bus they were travelling in met in an accident.
Their relentless effort
Winthorpe ‘Jackie’ Bell, who was national head coach, and Dennis Ziadie, coach of the youth programme, both travelled to the 1986 World Cup in their relentless effort to improve a badly faltering national programme and help Jamaica qualify for the World Cup.
After watching Brazil against France in the quarter-final, Bell, Ziadie, and companion Carl Chang were due to fly back to their hotel in another town, but all the flights were booked and they decided to take a bus back to the hotel.
According to reports, only three seats were left on the bus - two at the front and one in the back - and Bell and Ziadie sat together in the front, while Chang took the seat at the back.
When the accident occurred, Ziadie was thrown from the bus and immediately died on impact, while Bell, who originally survived the crash, later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Bell and Ziadie played Manning Cup for St George’s College before playing for St George’s Old Boys, Lucas and then Santos in the old Division One in the 1960s. The two also played for the national team. Bell, a hard-tackling defender, and Ziadie, a forward. In 1970, former Santos coach Winston Chung-Fah, hand-picked Bell to replace him, and Bell went on to win four straight national titles with Santos, a team which included the legendary Allan ‘Skill’ Cole.
Ziadie also had a brief stint overseas with the Boston Beacons in the NASL in 1968.
Meanwhile, this year’s list of honourees include former players Douglas ‘Dougie’ Bell, Andrew Price and Neville Granville; former FIFA referee Karl Tyrrell; and Ronaldo Watson, JFF’s and Portmore United’s equipment coordinator.
Proceeds from the venture will be used to purchase laptops and printers for basic schools islandwide.
There will be no charge at this year’s event; however, patrons will be asked to make a donation and will receive a ticket from which gate prizes can be won, courtesy of the Bob Marley Foundation.