World Cup sponsor Coca-Cola through their local distributors Caribbean Bottlers Limited have sign on to be one of the sponsors of this year’s East Port of Spain Supreme Football League.
The league, which is in its second year of running, was launched at the Head Office of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs (MSYA) on Abercromby Street in Port of Spain, on Friday.
The partnership will see Coca-Cola sponsor all participating teams with drinks such as PowerAde, which is the official sponsor drink of the Fifa 2010 World Cup currently underway in South Africa, and Dasani water on all match days.
Coca-Cola will also sponsor special prizes on match days for individuals and teams. Marketing Manager of Coca-Cola T&T, Marlon Newallo said that his company was pleased to be associated with the league, which will provide a competitive outlet for youth.
“As a company we are always looking for ways to improve our relationship with communities across the country. When we were asked by the Ministry to get on board with them for this project we jumped at it because we felt that it would have a very positive impact on the community in, which it is based,” said Newallo.
He added that football is a universal language and it has the ability to help build good relationships between people and bridge the gaps between different communities.
“When you look at the World Cup which is underway you realize that while people may support different teams they always unite to enjoy the game and we hope that by coming onboard with the Ministry in this most noble venture we will help to do the same thing in these communities,” said Newallo.
The youth league caters for teams, clubs, schools and other football entities from East Port of Spain and environs in three groups - U-18 boys, U-15 boys and U-18 girls. The girl’s competition is a new feature of the League and is in keeping with the MSYA’s thrust to promote women and girls in sport.
T&T will also host the Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup in September and official of the Ministry stated that these and other initiative will help to promote the event.
The League, which has also attracted sponsorship from Universal Foods and Movietowne, will starts at the Queen’s Park Savannah on July 10th and will be supported by coaches from the communities, who are certified under the MSYA’s D License programme, the Trinidad & Tobago Football Referees Association and the American Youth Soccer Organisation (AYSO). The League will run for seven weeks and will culminate in a day of finals on 28 August.
Some of the team expected to take part in this year’s competition are Malick Secondary Comprehensive, Net Shakers Club, Laventille United FC, Never Dirty Youth Council FC, Pitman Lane United FC, First Touch Players, New Millennium FC, Junior Spence Soccer Academy, T&T Cadet Force, Morvant Elements and defend champions Step by Step FC at the Under-15 level.
While in the Under-18 Morvant Elements, Step by Step FC, Clint Marcelle Coaching Academy, Net Shakers Club, Pitman Lane United FC, DBA Football Academy, Laventille United FC, Junior Spence Soccer Academy, Sunshine United, Barataria Ball Players and defending champions New Millennium are expected to take part.
For more information about the East POS Football League, please contact Christian Charles, Sport Development Officer at 766-6866 or Zara Lewis at 484-3756.