Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
"... Bear in mind that winning is not everything, it's how you play the game." - Simpson Miller
SPORTS MINISTER, Portia Simpson Miller, encouraged youngsters participating in the Caribbean Broilers (CB Chicken)/Institute of Sports Primary Schools football competition to play with spirit.
"While you participate, bear
in mind that winning is not everything, it's how you play the game," the minister told the kids at the kick-off, which was shifted from the National Stadium to the National Arena yesterday due to heavy rainfall.
A record 48 teams have been registered to take part in this season's competition, up from 43 last season.
CHANCE FOR SOCIALISATION
Sports Minister Simpson Miller called on the players to also use the competition as an avenue to meet friends, saying, "I hope this competition will bring friendships and I hope that you will take something back to your community and school.
"Good luck to all of you, and I look forward to coming and watching some of you," she added.
CB Chicken pumped $1.5m into the Corporate Area competition, and while addressing players at yesterday's opening ceremony
and dress parade, their Group Marketing Manager, Roger Thompson, said his company is very proud to be associated with this competition.
"Today is a day we are very proud of," he told the players.
He also begged players to go home and ask their parents to come and watch them play.
Content Gap are the lone first timers, while St. Michaels and Alpha are the returning teams.
Holy Family are the defending league and knockout champions.
Meanwhile, local all-sport channel SportsMax, which joined forces with INSPORTS and CB Chicken to back the competition, will bring some of the matches into the living rooms of football fans.
Oliver McIntosh, chief executive officer and general manager at SportsMax, said his company is committed to the development of sports and television is very important to that.
SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
"This is coverage of younger players, so the coaches can see them at a younger stage and that is really how sports is developed," he said.
Matches will be broadcast in a one-hour highlight package on Saturday mornings at 7:00, then 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, which will be taken from 20 matches per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
