Of Garrisons And Goalscorers

Jamaica. An island of rum, reggae and Rasta. Of cricket, sprinting and white sandy beaches. And of guns, gangs and murder.
Sick of the hype and tawdriness of modern football in the big European leagues, Hugo Saye spent a full season with the champions of the Jamaica Premier League to discover what life is like on the other side of the beautiful game. Getting to know players and managers alike, he would come to understand how their lives unfold, what they give to the game and how football survives on FIFAs margins.
But this is also the story of how sport can be so vital to a society that has the third highest murder rate in the world. In communities where the death toll is similar to that of the Afghan front line, Premier League clubs manage to thrive. Where street wars and politics are deeply interwoven, football is connected by both.
From international players to Government personnel; from the superstar player once Bob Marleys closest friend to the former Prime Minister with gang connections now running one of the countrys top teams, all share their views on the game in this extraordinary environment.