T.J. Houshmandzadeh Jr. (right) of the Cincinatti Bengals imparts the finer points of American football (NFL) to students from the Negril area at the annual Rujohn Celebrity Sports Camp, held at Kool Runnings Water Park in Negril recently. - Contributed

More than 120 youngsters from Negril and its surrounding areas recently benefited from the professional experience of five American NBA and NFL players, who took time from their professional careers to showcase their skills at a sports camp hosted at the Kool Runnings Water Park in Negril.

The event, which marked the fifth staging of the annual Rujohn Foundation Celebrity Sports Camp, brought together students from Sheffield All-Age, Little London Primary, Broughton Primary, Negril All-Age, and The Manning's High schools. The American stars on display at the camp were former Miami Heat NBA player Tim O'Connor James, NFL running back Rudi Johnson, wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh, Jr., both of the Cincinatti Bengals, Omar Gaither, line backer of the Philadelphia Eagles, and defensive tackler Shaun Smith of the Cleveland Browns. Also present at the camp was Dr. Paulette Walker-Johnson, cheerleading coach of the Virginia State University, and her assistant, Parish Haynes.

Focus of the camp

The focus of the camp was to promote hard work, perseverance, achievement, and a positive attitude for the youths in an attempt to encourage their solid citizenship. This was achieved through the training sessions hosted by the professionals at the week-long camp. Each session was concluded with the students displaying their sports skills and cheerleading moves they had learnt for the American professionals and organisers of the camp. Following the session's end, the students, organisers, and American celebrities spent the rest of each day on the 10 water slides offered at the water park.

Gaither expressed much delight for the sports camp, which he felt, was very inspiring.

"I think that it is good that kids in Jamaica see guys who look like them doing positive things, telling them they can be somebody and that they can make it," Gaither said.

"These camps are well worth it. Teaching them not just about sports, but about everyday life as well. These camps inspire them, teach discipline, honesty, and integrity," he added.

The Rujohn Foundation is a South-Florida based, non-profit organisation established in 2003 by Jamaicans Andrew and Christina Bachelor to serve Jamaica's youth.