Miss Jamaica 1971 Ava Gill presenting the Prseident's Cup to 1971 Champions Boys Town . KSAFA president Ralph Bardowell is partly hidden. (Photo: Provided by The Jamaica Gleaner Company)

It started under Ralph Bardowell’s 1971/72 administration but only lasted a year

First called the President’s Cup, the competition was introduced by the newly elected Ralph Bardowell 1971/72 administration. At that time, it was a 90 minutes KO and included 6 teams, namely : the KSAFA Division I winner and runner- up; The KSAFA Division 11 winner and runner- up; and the winner and runner- up of the KSAFA Business House .
Boys Town won the inaugural title, but the competition only lasted a year.

Revived and restructured into a 20/20 KO festival by the Stephenson administration with clearly defined objectives -2005-2007.

After an absence of more than 20 years, the Stewart Stephenson led ‘Solid Achievers’ revived the President’s Cup

Objectives

This ‘football festival’ was inaugurated in September 2005 and henceforth heralded the start of KSAFA season. It was seen as an entirely new and innovative concept of president Stewart Stephenson’s ‘Solid Achievers’ administration, with three objectives:
i) To enable the participating clubs to expose and assess new and untested players within a competitive environment before the start of the regular senior competitions.
ii) It will provide spectators with an exciting new format and offer competitive and innovative entertainment which they can enjoy over the weekend
iii) It will enable the Association to host a festival for its clubs and fans alike, while providing the opportunity to earn much needed revenue to cover the Association’s administrative expenses.

Structure

The competition was played over two days on a knock out basis and scheduled to kickoff on the first weekend of September. It was opened to the winners of KSAFA’s senior competitions of the previous season namely: the Jackie Bell KO, Super League, Major League and Syd Bartlett competitions. These four (4) champions, together with KSAFA’s four (4) leading clubs in the Nation Premier League competition, comprise the eight (8) quarter –finalists who will compete for the President’s Cup

The succeeding years

KSAFA president AB Stewart Stephenson presenting 2006 President Cup to Champion Waterhouse  FC (Photo: Provided by VILCOMM Services Int'l Ltd)

Life of Jamaica and Pan Caribbean Financial Services Ltd co-sponsored the inaugural competition to the tune of $200,000. The qualifying teams that season were: Arnett Gardens FC, Boys Town FC, Constant Spring FC, Cooreville Gardens FC ,Harbour View FC, Police Nationals, Waterhouse FC and Tivoli Gardens FC.

Alliance Investments Ltd sponsored the 2006/07 competition with a sponsorship package of $120,00.Waterhouse FC emerged champions from a field that also comprised: Boys Town FC, August Town FC , Duhaney Park FC ,University of Technology, Waterhouse FC , Harbour View FC, Tivoli Gardens FC and Arnett Gardens FC.

Locker Rooms FC endorsed the 2007/08 competition with a sponsorship of $350,000. Eight teams qualified thus: Harbour View FC, Police National FC ,Elleston Flats FC, Liguanea United FC, Waterhouse FC, Tivoli gardens FC, August Town FC and Arnett Gardens FC.

Chronology

2005/06- Boys Town FC
2006/07- Waterhouse FC
2007/08- Harbour View FC
 

New look and rebranded Claro Champions League kicks off under Rudolph Speid Administration, commencing 2009/2010.

Following a one year hiatus, a new look and rebranded Claro Champions League kicked off on August 8,2009.

The Competition was run on a league basis as a new feature. It involved eight KSAFA teams drawn from its Confederation Senior League and JFF National Premier League . The teams were divided into two zones of four and vied for the KSAFA Champions League trophy. The teams which participated in the inaugural new look competition were

Zone A
Arnett Gardens	August Town
Greenwhich Town	Tivoli Gardens

Zone B
Boys Town	Waterhouse
Rae Town	Harbour View

The competition last for two weeks over five venues in the quarter finals round, culminating with the final on August 18,2009.

The 2009 /10 restructured Claro sponsored Champions League, replaced the Locker Room sponsored President’s Cup. It however continued to signal the start of KSAFA football year ,retained the strategic objectives, chief amongst which is the preseason preparation of teams eligible. The teams that qualified were : the winners of the previous season’s Super League ,Major League , Syd Bartlett League and Jackie Bell KO Competition as well as the best placed KSAFA teams in the previous seasons JFF Premier League competition.

Waterhouse emerged champions of the new look competition with a 1nil victory over Tivoli Gardens in the final played at Arnett Gardens'.

The President’s Cup was last played in 2007 ,in a knockout format at one venue with the duration of play being 40 minutes. Then sponsored by Locker Room sports to the tune of $350,000,the competition was played over two days at the end of which Harbour View emerged champions 2-1 over defending champions Waterhouse in the final at the Barbican field.
No competition was played in the 2008/09 season but the Championship returned a year later rebranded and under a new format as well as increased sponsorship.

The duration of the games was ninety minutes.

Claro outfitted all participating teams and availed prize monies of $570,00 broken down as follows: $250,000 for the winner; $150,000 runner-up;$100,000 third place and 70,000 for the fourth place.

Waterhouse emerged champions of the new look competition with a 1nil victory over Tivoli Gardens in the final played at Arnett Gardens'.