KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica has misplaced one among its beloved multi-talented sons. Kenneth Campbell, the previous nationwide footballer affectionately recognized in musical circles as Alonzo Hawk, handed away peacefully at residence on Friday night time. He was 74 years previous.
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The making of a star at Vere Technical
Lengthy earlier than he lit up Jamaica’s top-flight soccer and charmed dancehall crowds as a selector, Campbell made his mark as a schoolboy sensation at Vere Technical Excessive College.
Between 1967 and 1969, Campbell was a part of an unstoppable power that dominated schoolboy soccer, serving to Vere carry the celebrated daCosta Cup three years in a row—with out dropping a single match. He added to that glory with three Olivier Protect victories, showcasing nationwide supremacy. A multi-sport athlete, he additionally contributed to Vere’s triumph within the Headley Cup, Jamaica’s high schoolboy cricket event.
Rising to nationwide prominence
Campbell’s expertise quickly earned him a spot on the worldwide stage. In 1967, at simply 17 years previous, he made his debut for Jamaica’s senior group. He would dazzle spectators together with his versatility—excelling as a striker, left winger, and left again.
Within the Nineteen Seventies, Campbell joined the legendary Santos Soccer Membership, a group that outlined home soccer excellence throughout that period. With Campbell of their ranks, Santos secured a number of championships, together with his aptitude, imaginative and prescient, and management serving to the membership preserve its aggressive edge.
After hanging up his boots, Campbell returned to the place all of it started—Vere Technical. This time, as a head coach, he as soon as once more made historical past, profitable two extra daCosta Cup titles and cementing his legacy as each a footballer and a mentor.
From pitch to dancehall: The delivery of Alonzo Hawk
Past the sphere, Campbell possessed a distinct type of rhythm. He stepped into the world of music and have become often called Alonzo Hawk, a beloved selector in Jamaica’s vibrant sound system tradition. His stage identify resonated with followers far and extensive, who admired his musical information, charisma, and deep connection to Jamaica’s sonic heritage.
Recognized to many merely as “Bop,” Kenneth Campbell lived a life that bridged the worlds of sport and tradition. He impressed generations not solely together with his footballing brilliance but additionally together with his ardour for music and mentorship.
As Jamaica mourns his passing, the echoes of his targets and the sounds of his selector units proceed to reverberate via the nation’s collective reminiscence.
Might his legacy reside on—on each discipline, in each dance, and in each coronary heart he touched.bbing headline choices that seize the story’s vitality and focus.
