JCA Hits Sponsorship Jackpot

The Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) on Wednesday announced a J$45 million sponsorship over three years from the lottery-based Supreme Ventures Ltd for its 10-team top cricket league now to be known as the Supreme Ventures Super Cup.

The competition which was unsponsored last year, was known then as the Super League.

The sponsorship, described by JCA president, Jackie Hendriks, as "a tremendous step for cricket in Jamaica", and by marketing director, Paul Campbell, as part of a drive to "forge new alliances", will provide much-needed money for mostly impoverished clubs and parish associations in the top league.

Those to compete from April 17 to June 27 are: Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, St Catherine, Manchester, Kingston, Kensington, Melbourne, Lucas and Boys' Town.

The champion team in the two-day, Saturday/Sunday tournament will receive the Michael Holding Trophy named for the great West Indies fast bowler of the 1970s and 80s, now turned cricket television commentator.

Holding who took 249 wickets in 60 Tests, was on hand yesterday to place the Supreme Ventures initiative in the context of what he said was a rapidly changing world, with people increasingly requiring monetary reward for effort.

"If there is no money in the game ... a lot of youngsters will find other paths in which to walk," the cricket legend said at the function, chaired by University of the West Indies (UWI) lecturer, Dr Christine Cummings, and held at the Hilton Kingston Hotel poolside.

The sponsorship will not extend to the second tiered JCA all-island league, known last year as the Senior League, but which will now be known as the Senior Cup. That's the more than 100-year-old name traditionally attached to the nation's top club league. The designation 'Senior Cup' was puzzlingly dropped by the JCA last year.

Hendriks said sponsorship was also being sought for the second tier tournament, which is scheduled to start two weeks before Easter.

Monetary incentives for the Supreme Ventures sponsorship of the Super Cup will include: League winners $500,000 and runners-up $250,000. For those qualifying to a final four phase, which will involve semifinals and final: first place $150,000, second place 100,000, third place 75,000, fourth place 50,000.

Teams scoring outright wins will receive $25,000; first innings points, $10,000; batsman scoring a century, $10,000; batsman scoring a double century, $20,000; bowler taking 10 wickets in a match, $20,000; bowler taking five wickets, $10,000; tournament MVP, $50,000.

Central to the sponsorship will be the live airing on local television of club games through the sports cable station, SPORTSMAX TV.

Clubs yesterday welcomed news of the sponsorship. A delighted Tony Becca, cricket writer and long-serving president of the Derrymore Road-based Melbourne, who has for years bemoaned the lack of support for clubs, described it as a dream come true.

"This is a tremendous development," Becca told the Observer. "I can't begin to tell you the problems the clubs have been going through over the last 15, 20 years in financing cricket.

"Clubs such as Kingston Cricket Club and Melbourne are having their problems and when I look at Lucas, Kensington, I can imagine the problems they are having. Not to even mention the parishes. It's one of the greatest days ... for cricket in Jamaica ..."

President and CEO of Supreme Ventures, Brian George, told a large audience that included Jamaica's Carib Beer cricket team and sports minister, Portia Simpson Miller, who delivered the keynote address, that the sponsorship represented a major initiative by his company.

"... We are not only supporting the efforts of the teams, players and coaches ... but we also feel that we are now part of one of the strongest, most respected traditions in the Caribbean," said George.

The semifinals of the Supreme Ventures Super Cup are scheduled for June 19-20. The final will be played June 26-27.