CLARO COMMITS TO KSAFA AND LOCAL FOOTBALL

Exciting days are ahead for the Kingston & St. Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), where a four year multi-million dollar sponsorship agreement was signed with telecommunications provider Claro Jamaica.

The partnership deal represents the first major sponsorship signing in KSAFA’s history. The sponsorship will cover a wide range of activities including jerseys to be distributed to all KSAFA teams. The sponsorship also covers the procurement of equipment, payment of referee fees, administrative costs, and media coverage for matches, cash payments to clubs and prize monies as well as the staging of award presentations. In addition Branding and Joint Promotions as well as discounts on Claro handsets to KSAFA Club Managers, Coaches and Players are also included.

With this major partnership, Claro will now be the Title Sponsor of the KSAFA Super, Major, Syd Bartlett, Under 20, 17, and 15 Leagues. This deal will also fund the launch of a Women’s League and lead to the renaming of the President’s Cup, now to be called the Claro/KSAFA Champions League. The winner of the Premier League, Jackie Bell Knockout, Under 21, Super, Major, Syd Bartlett League, the All Island KSAFA Knockout Champion, and the Champion Affiliate team will compete for this prestigious trophy over two weekends.

Claro is overwhelmingly satisfied to partner with KSAFA and will support any activity that provides a positive outlet for Jamaicans.

Claro recognizes that KSAFA has done an exemplary job by uniting communities across the Corporate Area and giving people, young and old, men and women a positive outlet. It is with this focus that Claro joins KSAFA in this move.

Claro is a new brand and is keen on growing rapidly – a view that KSAFA shares. Upon receiving the proposal from KSAFA, Claro was convinced that the Football Association was one that is very organized and poised for rapid growth.

Claro is focussed on facilitating positive change to the lives of Jamaicans and football is one such avenue. The KSAFA partnership is very significant for Claro, as the company is in its introductory stage in the market and wishes to align itself with products that will grow along with the company. Claro encourages the Clubs to continue to develop the beautiful game, so that collectively, we can contribute positively to the life of all Jamaicans.

Beaming with confidence was the President of KSAFA, Rudolph Speid as he welcomed the KSAFA Claro partnership. In his response, Speid conveyed his Association as well as its Affiliates heartfelt gratitude to Claro for the considerable step they took in partnering with the Association. Claro’s sponsorship he said “was a significant boost to the operations of the KSAFA clubs and football in general. This will only enhance the sport locally, as for many years the majority of clubs found it difficult to finance their daily activities”.

He also pledged to continue working with those companies who have been supportive of football and more specifically KSAFA’s football over the years, while he encouraged other corporate entities to follow in Claro’s footstep. Speid further told those in attendance that “I am committed to ensuring that the Clubs who had given me a mandate in early September 2008 were satisfied.”

The Claro/KSAFA Super League competition will kick start this Saturday, 6th December 2008 with twelve teams parading their skills. In the feature game of the day, Constant Spring will host Maverley/Hughenden at the Constant Spring field. August Town will face Liguanea at the UWI Bowl, Bull Bay will tackle Real Mona at Bull Pen, JDF will play Cavalier at Up Park Camp, Santos will go up against Mountain View at Bell Chung Stadium and Police National will battle Duhaney Park at Molynes. All games begin at 3:00 p.m.

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