MARCH 2023 THE VOICE
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Briana backing Jamaica’s track stars of tomorrow By Rodney Hinds JAMAICA’S YOUNGEST Olympic gold medallist Briana Williams has awarded scholarships to three Excelsior High School student-athletes valued at $210,000. Williams, who moved to Jamaica last year, is already dedicated to giving back to the community. Following a Christmas treat the 20-year-old staged for children in the Montego Bay environs in December, Williams will provide $70,000 each in scholarships to Shakira Rhoden, Shelly-Ann Taylor and Janelia Williams. Rhoden and Taylor are members of Excelsior’s reigning Anthrick Corporate Area Development Meet 4x100m relay team. Kayla Harris, who was also a member of that team, awarded her scholarship to teammate Janelia Williams, who is an ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships (Champs) silver medallist in the 200m. The athletes caught Williams’ eye when they indicated she was a role model in an interview after their victory at the Anthrick Development Meet in 2022. When Williams read the article, as well as saw an Instagram post with the athletes, she was thrilled, “I was so honoured last year when I read the article in the newspaper stating that I inspire these girls. I wanted to meet them, but leave
SUPPORT: Briana Williams with scholarship awardees Shakira Rhoden, ShellyAnnTaylor and Janelia Williams of Excelsior High School track and field team; right, Gold medal winners Briana, left, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson of Team Jamaica during the medal ceremony for the 4 x 100m relay at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
Making a big impression
Sofia is the only tax adviser to appear on the Football Black List. By Rodney Hinds
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OFIA THOMAS, director and co-founder of Juno Sports Tax, is delighted to have been named on the recent Football Black List (FBL). The FBL is the most respected celebration of black excellence in football, and ambitious Sofia has been recognised alongside the likes of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, as well as pundit and ex-England player Lianne Sanderson. Sofia is the only tax adviser to be named on the list. Her business provides advice and financial education to professional footballers and tax courses for academies. She is also
in the process of writing a book about taxation for athletes. Juno Sports Tax was founded in 2021. Sofia said: “We set up Juno Sports Tax because we felt there was a clear gap in the market for high quality, independent, professional specialist tax advice in this area. This was especially true of high-net-worth sports people who have often been the subject of poor advice and targeting around tax evasion. “It’s fantastic that in such a short space of time our work has been so widely recognised and to have been included in the prestigious Football Black List is a very welcome acknowledgement of our efforts.”
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more than inspirational words. I wanted to support their academic journey.” The scholarship was made possible through Briana’s sponsor GraceKennedy Limited and will be disbursed to the school to cover the cost of books, tuition and other necessities for the 2023 academic year. The Briana Williams scholarship will now be an annual offer to aid student-athletes in their academic and sporting pursuits. “I am committed to giving back to athletes in Jamaica because I know what it’s like. It’s not easy being a student-athlete,” she shared. “My sponsor GraceKennedy and I will make this an annual scholarship to deserving student athletes who showcase their athletic talents and are also having good grades.” She encouraged over 100 members of the Excelsior High track team who were present at the ceremony to remain committed to the sport. “I want to encourage you to work hard and don’t let anybody quell your dreams,” she said. “Put in the work, listen to your teachers, your coaches and rewrite your goals and recite them every day and don’t give up. In 2020, Williams provided 25 tablets to student-athletes forced to attend classes from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also donated furniture and school supplies to educator Stacey-Ann Donaldson who has a reading and homework centre in Kingston.
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