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General Secretary’s Presentation

Burchell Gibson General Secretary, JFF

The Jamaica Football Federation through its Board of Directors gave the necessary authorisation to the interim premier league clubs association to act on its behalf to conclude negotiations for the sponsorship of the national premier league.

This decision of the Board followed on tentative authorisation by the Federation’s Management Committee which allowed the process to begin some three months ago.

Ladies and gentlemen it is with great pleasure that I introduce the Premier League Club Association.

The JFF sees this new development as a positive one from many perspectives. First of all we recognise the increased sponsorship and cash injection into the clubs which it has facilitated. This is always to be commended and applauded.

In this light the Federation welcomes to the football sponsorship fraternity Cash Plus as the new title sponsor for the league.

We wish to thank you for showing the commitment and support to the sport that you have agreed to. The Federation commits to working with the clubs’ association to ensure that your expectations are met.

We however see the new developments as positive from other perspectives than the increase in cash sponsorship.

The renewed unity amongst the clubs is to be applauded and we appeal to the clubs to do all

The New Premier League Club Association

 possible to have it preserved.

We also note that the new structures and approaches that are being taken, seek to learn from the experience of other successful leagues on the international scene, importantly, whilst adapting to Jamaican realities and level of development.

We also note that new approaches are being taken in relation to sponsorships and benefits to sponsors. A new approach also to media alignments which are aimed at maximising listener-ship, viewer-ship as well as revenue.

Madam Minister in 2005 I wrote an article when the Harbour View Football Club had its anniversary celebrations and I argued how government would treat taxes and the incentives that could be given to sponsors. Today, honourable Minister, I call on you to look at this as if sports grows and the necessary incentives are given then our gross domestic product will also grows.

It is in this light that I urge fans, the media and stakeholders to recognise that this represents a new dawn in the development of our local football programme and should be seen in that light. A new vision needs new eyes.

I wish to sincerely thank all those especially J. Wray & Nephew who have taken the product to where it is today and to urge new and existing partners to continue to give the support required.

I wish also to state that the Board of Directors of the Jamaica Football Federation at its meeting on September 9, also approved an interim body comprising of (a) three officers of the JFF and (b) five officers of the premier league football clubs association which is now with the objective of creating a separate football league in accordance with the provisions of the articles of association of the JFF and subject to the approval of congress.

This season the league will consist of a fourth round. Each team will play five (5) more games, i.e. thirty eight (38) games compared to thirty (33) last season. The clubs which form the top half of the league immediately after the 33rd league match shall occupy the first six places in the league at the end of the season and the clubs which from the bottom half of the league, immediately after the 33rd league match.

The teams will play each other once either on a home or away basis. Please note, if teams A and B are in the top 6 group and team A plays team B at home in the third round then team B will play team A at home. Teams placing 1-6 from round 3 can only replace each other’s ranking in this group, whilst team placing 7-12 can only replace each other’s ranking in that group.

I am sure Cash Plus injection will give the needed boost to Jamaica’s football.

Today, we will distribute the fixtures for the first two playing days.

I thank you.

Once again we look forward to a very, very entertaining and exciting 2007-2008 premier league season.