Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter

President of the Jamaica Football Federation, Captain Horace Burrell (third left), receives a cheque for $71.1 million in sponsorship towards the Under-21 National League at a press conference at the federation's offices, yesterday. Making the presentation were William Mahfood (left), president of Wisynco; Zachary Harding (second left), advisor to the Minister of Tourism; Kimberly Lawson (third right), sponsorship and events manager, Wisynco; Edward Seaga (second right), chairman of the Premier League Clubs Association, and David Burton, business development manager at Wisynco. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

The National Under-21 (U-21) football league received a significant financial boost yesterday, after a $71.1 million deal, for three years, was inked between the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and Wisynco, local distributors of the Coca-Cola brand.

Coca-Cola Jamaica will be the official sponsor of the league, contributing $23.7 million per annum. The annual sponsorship includes $12 million directly to the teams ($1 million to each team), $5.7 million in media support, promotion and prizes, and $6 million in product support.

The deal offers other benefits to the JFF, as Wata will be the official bottled water of both the Cash Plus Premier League and the Coca-Cola National Under-21 (U-21) football leagues. Each team will receive a significant allotment of Coca-Cola, Wata and Coca-Cola's isotonic drink, powerade.

"We are committed to the development of football at the early stage and not just at the national level. The vision that we have as a company is to develop the Under-21 league into a strong entity, from which football can flourish," said William Mahfood, managing director of Wisynco.

Joint efforts

Brainchild behind the sponsorship, Zachary Harding, current advisor to the Minister of Tourism, effected the arrangements when he held the post of marketing manger at Wisynco.

Harding, who is currently on secondment from Wisynco, stated: "A national football programme cannot exist without a professional league and no professional league can exist without a younger league feeding into it."

The sponsorship was made possible through the joint efforts of the JFF and the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA), chaired by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga.

According to Seaga, the U-21 league is a primary bridge from schoolboy football to the Premier League and the World Cup.

Referring to the Under-21 league as the 'Phantom League' , he said that "it wasn't easy to find sponsorship. We are glad that Wisynco came on board to raise the bar of the league. A lot has to be done to highlight the league and encourage media and public participation. The league will be separated from the Premier League as most matches are played as a curtain-raiser to Premier League matches. We need to give the league an identity."

President of the JFF, Captain Horace Burrell, stated that Wisynco's collaboration with the JFF and the PLCA would enhance and help football in Jamaica to reach higher.

Another level

"History has been created today. For the first time, our Under-21 league has been supported in a substantial way. It is no secret that our football programme needs several shots in both arms and we wish to thank Wisynco and Coca-Cola for taking on this important programme," Captain Burrell said.

He added: "This sponsorship will provide an opportunity for the U-17 and U-20 teams a real chance to be seen by the technical staff and be taken to the next level. The new JFF board is fired up and is committed to take football to another level."