It has been eight years since Dominic James died while representing St George’s College in their Manning Cup game against Excelsior High.

I was covering that game at the Stadium East field and tears flowed openly from the players and spectators.

I had bit my lips as I tried my endeavour best to finish my assignment. I had to grasp all that was happening and all the emotions.

Today, tears filled my eyes as I reminisced on that fateful day, September 20, 2016.

A mere two minutes after the referee’s whistle signalled the start of the Manning Cup encounter between St George’s College and Excelsior High School, young Dominic James, the captain of the ‘Light Blues’, team collapsed.

In my peripheral vision from the stands, I saw James slowly go down. I looked at him because no one was around him. He was not tackled or encountered any physical contact. My suspicion was aroused. Something could be terribly wrong.

Then my suspicion was confirmed. Dominic’s fall was off the ball. But on seeing him go down, the Excelsior player closest to him frantically signalled for help.

Assistant referee Keeble Williams, to his credit, signalled for the game to be stopped immediately.

St George’s team physician Dr Ivor Alexander and his counterpart from Excelsior ran to the young man’s aid. Both tried to revive him before he was placed in his father’s Honda CR-V and rushed to the hospital.

The game resumed, but approximately 43 minutes later, Jamaica’s schoolboy football fraternity was plunged into deep mourning as news came back from University Hospital of the West Indies that the 18-year-old had died.

Wailing sounds echoed around the venue. The tragedy was too much for his teammates and they fell to the ground in tears. The game had to be stopped as the Excelsior players were also in tears. 

James was a quiet but powerful player, who captained the Jamaica College youth teams before moving to St George’s College and also captained that team. A true tribute to his level of maturity.

“This one tough, this one tough,” said his coach Neville Bell, as his eyes were red from crying.

The signs were not good as his body was shaking and he was foaming at the mouth when I rushed to see him off in his father’s vehicle.

But I had hoped I would hear the typical response from the hospital that he was now OK. That positive news never came.

But after interviewing the team doctor Dr Ivor Alexander he revealed the lack of oxygen at the venue certainly didn’t help.

That prompted more discussion that the organisers should provide better medical assistance at games.

James was the only child of David and Denese James. They initiated a foundation in his honour.

Forever in our hearts.