Digicel beefs up JFF deal

Published: Tuesday | February 14, 2012

The Reggae Boyz 'Mission to Rio' Brazil 2012 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign got a boost yesterday with a new three-year sponsorship deal by local telecommunications giant Digicel.

The sponsorship will cover expenses for the senior men, Under-23, Under-20, Under-17, and Under-15 teams.

It will also entail the holding of local and international training camps and international games ahead of participation in major FIFA and CONCACAF tournaments, as well as planned Digicel roll-out campaigns to drive fan support.

The dollar value of the sponsorship was not revealed at the press conference at the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) office, but The Gleaner understands it is close to $200 million.

"Our sponsorship is geared towards ensuring that all the national programmes that are needed to ensure Jamaica's success on the international stage are in place," said Digicel CEO Mark Linehan.

"It also represents the first time that Digicel, in addition to the senior Reggae Boyz, will be supporting our national youth teams as a means of ensuring that there is equal amount of focus and support at that level," he added.

Captain Horace Burrell, president of the JFF, was thankful.
"I want to say thanks ... it shows tremendous foresight and it's an undertaking that we don't take lightly," added Burrell. "By no means will this sponsorship solve our financial problems, but it will certainly go a long way in easing the burden."

Minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for sports, Natalie Neita-Headley, noted what can be achieved through partnerships.

"This is the kind of sponsorship that the country needs to grow the sport and that is needed to perform on the international scene," she said. "I thus implore all Jamaicans to take a page out of Digicel's book and join in supporting our football programme at this time."

- J. Lannaman

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