Captain's Bakery plays big shot for cricket

• Pumps $1m into national Limited-Overs Champs

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

The Captain's Bakery Limited played a big shot for the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), sponsoring its national Limited-Overs Championship to the tune of $1 million.

Captain Horace Burrell, CEO of the Captain's Bakery Limited, yesterday revealed that it was the sad situation of clubs pulling out which propelled his company to assist the cricketing body.

The championship, which was being run without a sponsor and is now at its halfway stage, saw three teams - national Senior Cup (two-day) champions Manchester, Portland and Lucas - opting not to play in the championship due to lack of funds.

The JCA, prior to the start of the championship, had asked participating clubs to foot some of the expenses relating to their participation, especially as it relates to venue preparation and travelling.

"When I heard that teams were pulling out I said to myself 'this is sad', several youngsters will not get to participate and improve their skills," said Burrell at a press conference called yesterday at Sabina Park to announce his company's sponsorship.

"I then decided that in the interest of our country and in the interest of cricket, I had to do something, and the hope is that our contribution, though small, will be able to help the JCA successfully complete the tournament," he added.

The sponsorship, which is somewhat off the $4 million which the JCA stated prior to the start of the championship was the ideal figure needed to run the championship, will primarily go towards taking care of administrative expenses.

Burrell, in the meantime, said he hoped that his company's involvement would result in more corporate companies partnering with the JCA, which is in need of assistance.

Encouraging sponsors

Throughout his presentation Burrell, who is also president of the Jamaica Football Federation and a vice-president of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), demonstrated an understanding of the cricketing landscape while making his plea.

"Jamaicans will support those entities who demonstrate a track record of genuinely giving back to communities," he explained.

"Jamaica, especially in recent years, has been doing well in terms of winning competitions at various age-group levels. However, without corporate Jamaica's support, there could be a reversal in years to come.

"I am therefore encouraging other sponsors to do like my company and partner with JCA, as they still have numerous competitions, age-group, women's and other cricket programmes that need sponsors."

The former army man, who plans to run for the presidency of the Caribbean Football Union and has also expressed his intention to run for the presidency of CONCACAF, said he was hopeful that cricket would return to its former glory.

"I believe that in time to come cricket will take its rightful place in the country and in the region, and it is for all well-thinking Jamaicans to give their support.

Meanwhile, JCA president, Lyndel Wright, said his association was grateful for The Captain's Bakery involvement.

"This sponsorship will go a long way in the development of Jamaica's cricket and Jamaica's cricketers," he said. "I want to say to Captain, to use a cricketing term, well-played."

The championship will continue this Saturday with the penultimate set of preliminary-round games.

It will then move on to its quarter-final and semi-final segment, before the grand final, which is slated for October 29.