By Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer 
The Harbour View women's football team holds aloft the Sherwin Williams women's knockout trophy at a presentation ceremony held at the JFF's New Kingston office on Tuesday afternoon. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
BARBICAN AND Harbour View shared the spotlight at Tuesday afternoon's awards ceremony at the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) New Kingston offices, which brought the curtains down on the JFF/Sherwin Williams Women's Football League.
Barbican copped a total of five trophies and $295,000 in prize money while Harbour View pocketed four trophies and $175,000.
Chief among the silverware won by Barbican was the Women's League championship crown, which they earned after defeating Harbour View in the finals 4-2 on aggregate to emerge champions a feat which means they pocketed $200,000 out of the nearly $1.5 million sponsorship money put up by Sherwin Williams.
Barbican also took home a trophy and $35,000 for winning the midseason final against Harbour View.
Adding to these trophies, Barbican's Charles Edwards walked away with a total of $55,000 and trophies after taking the 'Coach of the Year' and 'Coach of the Winning Team' awards. His charge, Nickeisha Thomas, who conceded only two goals was voted the best goalkeeper, for which she landed a trophy and $5,000.
FIRST KNOCKOUT PRIZE
Meanwhile, Harbour View landed the first ever Women's Knockout prize, which they gained after overpowering Rivoli in the final. Along with the trophy, they took home $20,000 for winning.
The 'Stars of the East's' Paula Jackson won the MVP of the final silverware. And by virtue of getting to the midseason final, they won $25,000; another $120,000 for making it through to the League final and $10,000 and a trophy for being the 'Fair Play' team.
Other winners on the day were Melissa Farquharson of Rivoli United and Harbour View's Jackson who were both awarded Sherwin Williams' academic scholarships valued at $25,000 each. Omlin Davis of Mountain View walked away with two awards - the top goalscorer with 12 goals and MVP awards. She took home $5,000.
Waterhouse, who were fourth in the KO, and third-placed Untouchable Strikers both pocketed $7,500 while Rivoli United, who finished second to Harbour View, collected $15,000. Untouchable were again in the money hauling in another $60,000 for fourth place in the league. Portmore Strikers got $80,000 for finishing third.
Commenting on the role Sherwin Williams played as sponsors of the island's lone domestic football competition for women, JFF president Crenston Boxhill said the competition's staging would have almost been impossible without the paint company on board.
"We are grateful for the role Sherwin Williams has played," said Boxhill, while adding that there was a need for more sponsorship of the country's football programme.
"What we do need is Corporate support and lots and lots of it," he said.
"Women's football in Jamaica is growing and will continue to grow but we need your support," added the president.
Meanwhile, Ian Forbes, Sherwin Williams' managing director, urged other corporate entities to get involved.
"I want to ask other corporate enterprises to follow the way set by Sherwin Williams and support women's football," he said.
Sherwin Williams' three-year sponsorship of the competition ends this year but Forbes announced that it will be on board for another two years after which it will again re-evaluate its role with women's football in 2006.
In the meantime, the island's lone FIFA assistant referee, Paulette Riley, was acknowledged by the JFF for her exploits as an official. Riley recently did duties at the Women's Under-19 World Cup in Thailand, adding to her long and enviable resume which includes being the first and only female assistant referee to officiate in international football matches - having covered the women's Gold Cup (up to the third place play-off) in Los Angeles and Seattle, the Pan American Games (final) in the Dominican Republic and Olympic qualifiers in Suriname and the Dominican Republic in 2003.
