CLUBS IN the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) premier competition will have more to shoot for this season.
The sport's perennial sponsor, Berger Paints Ltd, announced yesterday that it would swell its contribution to a new high of $1 million.
Warren McDonald, Berger's managing director, credited the decision to expand the company's financial backing to the sport's growth while linking the league's contribution to the national programme and the successful staging of last summer's World Netball Championship (WNC) and Jamaica's third-place effort.
"There is a saying that 'encouragement sweetens labour'," McDonald pointed out.
"In this case it could be said that encouragement rewards effort and achievement. Thus ... it gives me great pleasure to announce that Berger Paints Jamaica's sponsorship for the 2004 season will be ... $1 million," he said.
This represents an increase of just above 30 per cent over last season's $770,750 sponsorship package and it will bring about, at minimum, rewards of a similar percentage for each cash award.
"All prizes will be increased by at least 30 per cent this year," JNA second vice president Patrick Brissett told the gathering at yesterday's press launch.
The launch took place at the National Arena, next door to the Leila Robinson Courts where the 12 participating teams start shooting for honours on Saturday.
Competition then takes the form of abbreviated contests in the newly-named Silver Paints Rally, with action set to start at 4:00 p.m. and teams guaranteed cash awards for each goal scored.
Added sheen will be provided with a new title game - the Mid-season Final - and a name change for the real showcase which has dropped the 'Division 'A' League' it picked up last season. It will now be called the Berger Super Netball League.
The trophy for winning it will be buffeted with $100,000, a decent bonus on the $75,000 Clarendon team Jamalco earned with its first championship in the previous title chase.
Three matches on Tuesday will mark its opening round. They are Speg 'A' vs Tivoli 'A', Windalco vs Blades United and Seneca 'A' vs Police 'A', all set to begin at 5:45 p.m.
Teams placing second to fourth in the league will also receive cash awards, while there will be additional incentives for each victory, Most Disciplined Team, Most Accurate Shooter and runner-up, MVP for the final rounds, Most Defensive Team and Best Offensive Team.
Sharon Donaldson, recently eletaved to the JNA presidency, was full or praise for Berger's unbroken commitment which was initiated in 1989 at a cost of $50,000.
"This is our most important league and our partners have outdone themselves," she said. "Berger Paints' decision will advance our mandate to enhance the growth of netball."
