Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

THE 2007 St. James FA/Western Sports Champions Cup, which was launched in Montego Bay yesterday, is being sponsored to the tune of $500,000, and will be chock-full of incentives for the 31 competing football teams.

Speaking at the competition's launch, St. James FA president Orville Powell said he was excited about the competition, which will kick off next Tuesday.

"We are very excited because we will have the best teams in the parish on show," said Powell. "In addition, the incentive package will allow more teams to benefit, which should be an extra source of motivation for the lesser teams."

The competition, which will be played on a knockout basis, will feature the parish's two Wray & Nephew NPL teams, the four Captain's Bakery Western Super League contenders, the 12 Hart & Sons Senior League teams, and the 13 Sandals Division One teams.

Very happy

"We are very happy to be involved in this competition because we welcome every opportunity to contribute to the development of sports," said Guy Scott, the manager of Western Sports' Bay West branch. "We are looking forward to an exciting competition and we are imploring the players to exercise good sportsmanship so as not to blemish the name of Western Sports and the St. James FA."

In addition to the main cash prize of $30,000 and the Western Sports Cup, which will go the eventual champion, the winners of each game through the various rounds will receive a $5,000 Western Sports voucher.

At the end of the season, there will be special cash awards to the competition's Most Valuable Player, the winning coach, most disciplined team and the competition's top goalscorer.

To offer the lesser teams a chance to succeed, during the draw for each round the team from the lower division will be given home advantage.

"The NPL and Super League teams should start favourites but don't expect it to be a walkover for them," said Lilly Mae Crawford, the competition's coordinator. "I know that some of the lesser teams will be gunning to upset the big teams."