Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Carlo Redwood (centre), group marketing manager, Red Stripe, along with top Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) officials Crenston Boxhill (right) and general secretary Burchell Gibson, look at ths Red Stripe Champions Cup at the competition's launch at Red Stripe's headquarters, Spanish Town Road, yesterday afternoon. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE RED Stripe Champions Cup all-island KO football competition was given a $900,000 boost by its sponsor, Red Stripe, bringing the total sponsorship fund to $8.9m.
This was revealed by Carlo Redwood, group marketing manager at yesterday's press conference at the company's Vibes Sports Bar.
"Our goal is to continue to build spectator support for the competition, while at the same time assisting in the development of local football at the community and club level. As such, Red Stripe saw it fit to increase this year's sponsorship," said Redwood.
"We were extremely happy with the first year of the Red Stripe Champions Cup, the crowd support at the games and the media interest in the competition. This year we are looking forward to greater success," he added.
This year's competition kicks off next week Wednesday, January 18, with 26 teams - the 12 premier league outfits and the 13 parish champions plus KSAFA's runner-up - vying for the winning prize of $600,000 with the runner-up bagging $400,000.
This year's winning team will benefit from a 20 per cent increase in prize money up from $500,000 last year. In addition Red Stripe will provide travelling subsidies for teams playing outside of the parish, as well as cash incentives for all teams - win, lose or draw.
Prizes will also be awarded for Fair Play, MVP of the season, coach of the winning team and Top Referee and Assistant Referee.
REAL ENTERTAINMENT
To ensure that patrons get real entertainment at the featured games, including the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, Red Stripe will be spending over $6m on activities at the games.
Crenston Boxhill, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), said: "We have experienced something never seen in Jamaica before. That is the computerisation of the draw of the fixture."
The computerised draw trumped up one all premier league clash of two teams heading in the opposite directions, as the struggling Constant Spring host the resurgent Boys' Town.
Portland's St George's take on Salt Spring of St James; premier league Seba welcome St. James outfit Montpelier; Maverley/ Hughenden of Kingston and St. Andrew (KSAFA) versus Clarendon's Humble Lion; St. Mary's Star Cosmos travel to Standfast FC of St Ann; Los Perfectos of Manchester take on Bath Sports Club of St. Thomas; premier league Wadadah host Tafari Lions of St Elizabeth; KSAFA Major League outfit Cavalier welcome premeir league team Reno FC; Trelawny's Clark's Town FC versus D.B Basovak of St. Catherine and Westmoreland's Negril FC welcome struggling premier league team Rivoli FC.
