Guardian Life sponsorship increased to $600,000

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

The 2009-10 St James Football Association (STJFA) Guardian Life Division Two Football competition, which kicks off this afternoon, will be sponsored to the tune of a record $600,000, a $50,000 increase on last year's sponsorship tag of $550,000.

"Despite the recession, we at Guardian Life are committed to continuing our partnership with the St James FA," said O'Neil Brooks, the regional manager for Guardian Life, during the competition's launch in Montego Bay yesterday. "We want to go on record as stating that we are extremely pleased with the stewardship of the FA."

Opening game

In this afternoon's season opening game, the all-Rastafarian aggregation Roots House FC will oppose Hart Street FC in a much-anticipated Zone B showdown at the UDC playing field, starting at 3:30. The competition, which features seventeen, is divided into three zones - two zones of six teams and one with five."

Chairman of the Sports Develop-ment Foundation (SDF) David Mais, who was the guest speaker at the launch, urged the players to develop an appreciation for education as according to him, not many of them will get a chance to play professionally.

"Players need to realise that education is what is going to take them forward," Mais said. "We must get our players to continue their education even as they continue to display their skills on the football field."

The competition, which over the years has blended youth and older players in a mix that has sometimes attracted criticism, will see eight teams - the top two teams in the three zones and the third place finishers in zones A and B - advancing to an eight-team quarter-final.

At the conclusion of the quarter-finals, the top four teams will advance to the semi-finals, stated league co-ordinator Tracey Reid. "The four semi-finalists will square-off for the two places in the final," she added.

Prize structure

Based on the prize structure for the competition, the breakdown is as follows: The champions - $80,000 and the Guardian Life Trophy, second place - $40,000, third place $20, 000 and fourth place - $10, 000. In addition, incentives will be on offer to the competition's top goalscorer, top goalkeeper, top midfielder, top defender and most valuable player.

"We are looking forward to a very good season as we continue to meet our social responsibility to the community," said St James FA President George Evans. "We will be broadcasting some games on local cable and we will be taking more games into the respective communities."

The league is off to a late start this season because the St James FA had to first get sponsorship fully in place and then make outstanding payments to referees.