Jamaica Football Federation president Crenston Boxhill (left) and Charles Matthews, president and chief executive officer of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), put their pen to a ball at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston yesterday to mark a sponsorship agreement.
-Ian Allen photo
Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
THE JAMAICA Public Service Company (JPS) yesterday announced a sponsorship deal with the Reggae Boyz that will reduce, by 50 per cent, the cost to the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) for renting the National Stadium.
The package will see the JPS paying $400,000 per game over the next 18 months, a period in which the Boyz are expected to play some 20 games at the facility. The complete package for the period is valued at $8 million.
The parties said that while the deal was only announced yesterday, the JPS went on board with the JFF as early as June 12 when the Boyz played Haiti in their return-leg game at the 'The Office'.
In announcing his company's partnership with the JFF, Charles Matthews, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of JPS, said the company's slogan 'Changing Lives With Our Energy', will now take on an added meaning.
"At JPS, we recognise that football is the people's game and, therefore, one medium through which we can give life is our commitment to change lives with our energy," Matthews said.
"We at JPS aim to become a world-class company by providing superior service and corporate citizenship. On the other hand, the Boyz have begun their journey to become the best in the world in football... I believe that this partnership that we have announced today will help both of us achieve those goals."
Meanwhile, reacting to the generosity showed by JPS to the Boyz, JFF President Crenston Boxhill said it had lifted a part of the burden off the Federation's shoulders.
"It will go very, very far," said Boxhill. "Any sponsorship is good... every game we play at the National Stadium costs us approximately $800,000. So for every game that we arrange at the stadium, before we think about anything else, we have to think about $800,000. The fact that we can get the Stadium now for $400,000 as opposed to $800,000 is a significant contribution and we are really appreciative of it."
The Reggae Boyz, who have embarked on a 'Journey to Germany' campaign for the 2006 World Cup, recently got sponsorship from Red Stripe to the tune of $100 million.
The JFF indicated by way of a press release earlier this week that it was currently having dialogue with members of corporate Jamaica with a view to securing much needed funds for the programme.
