Claudia Gardner, Gleaner WriterHANOVER:
SANDALS NEGRIL Beach Resort and Spa renewed its sponsorship of the Hanover Major League football competition on Thursday to the tune of $500,000, this for the 15th consecutive year.
Twelve teams will compete in the league which will get under way on Sunday, March 26. The teams include two newcomers Prosper and Church of God Football Clubs and they will play for top honours alongside Central, Bamboo, Elgin Town, Superstar, Sandals, Cousins Cove, Campro and last year's beaten finalists, Konkrete.
League director and treasurer of the Hanover Football Association, Sheridan Samuels, said that a part of the sponsorship funds will be channelled towards subsidising two-thirds of the fees which teams are required to pay officials.
"We don't want to run a competition whereby, because of money, teams have to withdraw from the league. Hanover is the only parish association that helps teams to pay referees fees because teams in other competitions in Trelawny, St. James and Westmoreland are asked to pay the full component of the referees fees plus travelling," Samuels said.
He also urged teams to put measures in place to collect fees from spectators on game days, in a bid to cushion expenses which the teams will incur.
"We know Hanover is a poor parish, so we are encouraging teams to help themselves because we are in a new dispensation, so put measures in place to collect at the gates," he stressed.
In his address manager of the resort, Howard Spittle, called for a fair, non-violent and disciplined competition.
"We are proud to be a part of this sponsorship knowing that the benefits to be gained will be great. Sandals Negril is committed to sustained partnership with the Hanover Football Association and by extension the Jamaica Football Federation in promoting the development of sports," Spittle said.
"We hope to see fair play and good sportsmanship. Each player involved, whether it be on or off the field, must ensure that discipline is maintained at all times. Being the only sponsor of this competition, we also look forward to professionalism being displayed among those who will monitor the way the games are played," he added.
