Death is never an easy topic. It’s even less so when young people die, and certainly when they pass suddenly. It hits hardest when promising youth have not just their careers, but their lives, snuffed out in a moment. The impact spreads like ripples as if a stone had been cast into a previously calm body of water, quickly touching family, friends, schools, clubs, and the community as a whole.
The latest lost athlete Ajani Jimz Hippolyte died in early October, drowned in a boating incident at Marisule Beach. An exuberant and exciting former youth football international, he was the second local player to die this year. Sherman Augustin, the first, was fatally stabbed during Carnival celebrations in July.
The demise of these two outstanding young footballers hit me hard, more so that of Jimz, or Jimmy. I was immediately reminded of Bradley Felix, Nick Elibox, and Dhanraj Chaz Cepal, who met their demise within the space of 18 months between 2018 and 2019. All three died in terrible car crashes.
Felix, too, was a national footballer, as well as a fine track athlete. Elibox, his former classmate at Castries Comprehensive Secondary School, had recently returned home from a cricket scholarship in England. Cepal, 20 when he died, was a student at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. A classy opening batsman, he had been selected to multiple Windward Islands Under-15 and Under-17 teams.
These guys were all outgoing, fun-loving personalities. But on the field of play, they were all business — and they were like that from young! I had personal interactions with three of the five, quite aside from writing about them over the years. I was one of Chaz‘s biggest fans. Bradley was a member of my track and field club, Morne Stars. And I’ve long known Hippolyte, and watched him grow up in Marisule.
Hippolyte started school at Gordon and Walcott Memorial Methodist School, and transferred to Grande Riviere Primary, before going to Babonneau Secondary and the Saint Lucia Sports Academy. But it was on the football field he made his name.
In 2018, he dazzled at the Flow Skills Challenge, winning the 12-13 category from 35 youngsters. I had the privilege of presenting him with his trophy at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. His prize was a trip to Trinidad and Tobago, alongside his mother, Nicole Hippolyte, and FC Pioneers coach, Vincent Boland. There, he had the opportunity to work closely with coaches from the Manchester United Soccer School.
Also in 2018, Hippolyte combined with fellow Under-14 national player Shaquan Ants Nelson to help lead FC Pioneers to the third-place playoff in the Under-15 division of the LUCELEC Bank of Saint Lucia Youth League.
Ants was named the most valuable player of the 2019 Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA) Inc. Under-14 Inter-District Competition, where he and Jimz linked up with club rival Kegan Caull of VSADC. Caull, Nelson and Hippolyte scored for Central Castries in the 2-0 title triumph over Marchand, but Hippolyte was named best midfielder. All three went on to represent the country at Under-17 and Under-20 level.
Post-COVID, Hippolyte transferred to his “home” club, GMC United. In 2022, even before the advent of the Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League, he signed with the La Clery district team. And it was with La Clery that he really began to blossom under the guidance of former national captain Zaine Pierre.
It’s been well documented that La Clery were all-conquering in 2023 and 2024, capturing the Island Cup, the Blackheart Big 8, their first-ever Blackheart Tournament, and the first Semi-Pro Premier League title. And FIFA No. 1IA37F8 Ajani Hippolyte was instrumental to it all.
On the cusp of his senior national debut, Hippolyte has been described as “the ultimate utility player”. He played defensive midfield, centre-back, and fullback, but also appeared on the scoresheet twice this season, both times from deadball situations. In the locker room, he sang and danced his way into the hearts of his team.
It is no exaggeration to say that his death has been a devastating blow for his community. His bubbly personality and brilliant smile will be remembered by all who encountered him, but especially his family, friends, and teammates. His team will surely play with a 12th man the remainder of this season.
It hurts to lose young people with bright futures ahead of them, like Jimz, Chaz, Nick, Sherman, and Bradley. These were kids with the world at their feet. Their talent is undeniable, and they had the work ethic to match. We just have to continue building a better enabling environment for those like them. And may all the great memories they created never be lost.
