Jamaica Observer
More fun, excitement and bigger prize monies are up for grab with the new season of the Flow Champions Cup Knock-out competition.
Donovan White, the vice-president of marketing and sales at Flow’s parent company Columbus Communications, made the announcement during yesterday’s launch of the fifth staging of the tournament.
“Last year we had an expertly planned and executed tournament, so for us it was easy to build on that for this year. It’s Jamaica’s premier knockout competition and it’s the kind of football that brings excitement,” he told the Jamaica Observer at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Technical Centre based at the Mona Campus.
The 2014 Flow Champions Cup will feature 14 parish or confederation winners as well as the 12 Premier League teams. This season’s winners will receive $1.5 million and the winning trophy. The second-placed team will take home $440,000, while the losing semi-finalists will each pocket $220,000.
Last year’s champions Waterhouse FC were handed $1 million.
“As the competition grows, we as sponsors have to find new ways to add incentives to the game and get the teams to perform at their best,” White said, regarding the cash boost.
He added that the budget for this year’s tournament, including television production, is “over $25 million”. He could not confirm the exact expenditure last year, but that amount is believed to be in the vicinity of $15 million.
Each club will be given full match kits for the competition.
Flow will also award the top-scoring team for each round with a $50,000 prize to be used for a charity cause of their choice within their community.
Flow is in the second of a current three-year deal with the JFF and the Professional Football Association of Jamaica (PFAJ).
Captain Horace Burrell, the JFF president, lauded Flow for their continued support of local football. He stressed that clubs and players should ensure that discipline is maintained.
“I want to say thanks to Flow for having taken the wise decision to come on board.
“To all the participating teams, I expect the highest standard of discipline to be displayed throughout this tournament,” he said before rushing off to catch a flight to Zurich, Switzerland.
Edward Seaga, the PFAJ chairman, said the captivating, do-or-die nature of knock-out football will “sharpen the attention of the public”. Seaga, a former Prime Minister of Jamaica, praised the work of his organisation in negotiations with Flow; efforts he said which prompted the telecommunications firm to invest a “substantial amount” into the Champions Cup.
Yesterday, the 2014 Flow Champions Cup draw was held to determine the scheduled match-ups for Round One on October 1 and 2. The final is set for November 17.
The top-six Premier League teams at the end of the 2013 calendar year have received byes and will join the competition at Round Two set for October 8 and 9. They are Arnett Gardens FC, Harbour View FC, Humble Lion FC, Rivoli United, Montego Bay United and Waterhouse FC.
Round One matches on October 1
Seaforth SC vs Holland United
August Town FC vs Highgate United
Old Harbour Bay United vs Portmore United
New Green FC vs Black Star FC
Boys’ Town FC vs Lucea FC
Round One matches on October 2
University of the West Indies vs Sporting Central Academy
Barbican FC vs Cavalier SC
Bucknor United vs Granville FC
St George’s SC vs Tivoli Gardens FC
Lewis Strikers FC vs Reno FC
Home teams named first.