ISSA nets sponsors for junior games

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

The Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) has, for the first time in four years, attracted a sponsor for its Under-16 football competition. Busta has come on-board as title sponsor, while National Commercial Bank (NCB) has joined as associate sponsor.

Busta inked a three-year deal, which will see the company committing $5.7 million in the first year, with the intention of increasing the amount in the next two years when they will also sponsor the Under-14 competition.

NCB's sponsorship is valued at $1.5 million. At the end of the competition, NCB will assess whether to remain on-board.

Dr Walton Small, president of ISSA and principal of Wolmer's Boys, was elated with the sponsorship deals.

"We have been going without sponsorship for four to five years and it has really caused a stress on the budget of ISSA," said Small, while speaking at the press conference to launch the competitions at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel on Wednesday. "So the sponsors, Busta and NCB, coming onboard now, has really done something significant for ISSA," he added.

This marks Busta's first venture into sponsoring high school football and Stephen Dawkins, general manager of Jamaica Beverages, which is responsible for distributing Busta, explained why.

Brand building

"It is about brand building and brand development, we all know that football is the biggest sport in the world," Dawkins pointed out. " With this competition's target group being under-16, it is right within where our brand-building is," he added.

NCB's Cross Roads branch Brand Manager, Glen Shields, also believes the competition is a great fit for his company.

"As good corporate citizens, we have a responsibility to grow, encourage and develop the youths and it fits in very well with our products."

The competition will also see a format change as the Under-14 and Under-16 games will be played on the same day to help alleviate the schools' expenses and a shortage of referees. The schools will, therefore, be placed in corresponding groups for both the Under-14 and Under-16 competitions. When the competition kicks off on October 13, Under-14 matches will be contested at 1:45 p.m., and Under-16 games are slated to start at 3:15 p.m.

"We decided that, for two reasons, the cost for the schools to have the Under-14 go to 'School A' and the Under-16 go to 'School B'. That is a double cost where travelling is concerned," explained George Forbes, competition officer for ISSA. "The second reason that we looked at is that we do not have enough referees to go around, so you will have three referees to one venue, instead of six referees at two venues," he added.