AUGUST Town and Reno will be involved in the only all-Premiership first round match-up of the national knockout football competition - the COK Cooperative Credit Union Champions Cup - when the newly sponsored competition kicks off next week Tuesday.

This year's competition will feature 24 teams - 12 premier league clubs and the champions of the respective parish knockout tournaments, or closest finishers to the premier leaguers. The teams will play five rounds, beginning next Tuesday, and culminate with the final on Sunday, May 4.

The first round draw is: Albany vs Grange Hill, Sandy Bay vs Benifica, Bath vs Naggo Head, St Georges vs Manchioneal, New Green vs Barbican, August Town vs Reno, Humble Lion vs Sporting Central, Arnett Gardens vs Holland, Duhaney Park vs Exodus and Granville vs Seba.

NEW TWIST

The draw that took place at yesterday's launch included the parish champions and the bottom six premier league clubs as at the end of the second round. Up until the semi-final round the teams will play their games at home, but in a new twist, interested clubs who have the potential to host games thereafter at their facilities will be required to submit bids to the JFF.

The winner of this year's competition will receive $300,000, while $200,000 will go to the runner-up. Each semi-finalist will get $100,000 each.

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) general secretary, Horace Reid, warned spectators and club officials preparing to take part in the Champions Cup to show restraint as they are determined to take a tough stance against indiscipline.

"If a match has to be cancelled because of a lack of discipline inside or outside the grounds, before or during the game and after our investigations a team is found guilty, the game will be given to the other team, we are not going to replay it," Reid said at the event's official launch at the JFF headquarters yesterday.

COK investment

In a one-year commitment title sponsors COK will pour $3.2 million into the competition, sponsored for the last three years by Red Stripe.

"This speaks to incidents such as invasion attempted invasion, missile throwing and other incidents."

He added: "Any player and or official who makes public comments against the referee, assistant referee, match commissioner or any JFF official that brings the match into disrepute will automatically be fined $10,000.

"They will also be referred to the complaints and disciplinary committees for further sanctions," he said.

Recently, the final of the KSAFA Jackie Bell competition, which featured Harbour View and Waterhouse, had to be abandoned after missiles were hurled on to the pitch and shots were heard in the stadium's immediate environs.

- K. Mugisa