March 10, 2011
AFTER the footballing ecstasy that gripped the nation last season, the wait is finally over as Jamaica's premier knockout football competition, the Flow Champions Cup gets ready for another year of scintillating excitement with a mouth-watering opening round of fixtures.
Ten games are down to be contested in Round One today, with the respective parish champions and the lower half of the premier league squaring off across the island.
The showdown between Santos and two-time champions Reno at the Bell Chung Oval today at 3:00 pm is no doubt one of the most anticipated match-ups, with two of Jamaica's most storied clubs set to lock horns.
"No limit, bring it," that is the mantra of the Flow Champions Cup, and with $1 million on the line for the tournament winners, make no mistake about it, Santos will be going all out for the upset; at least that is the assurance from their ever-vocal coach Carlton 'Spanner' Dennis, who underlined the prestige of the match.
"Reno is one of the teams in the premier league for the most years and Santos is one of the original kingpins as well so it brings back a whole heap of memories and history so we will be looking to capture some of the former glory," said Dennis, whose team has never lifted the all-island knockout title.
Also today, Arnett Gardens will play host to an old foe in the form of Seba United at their Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex home ground at 6:00 pm in another game that pits Premier League class against parish association ambition.
Arnett Gardens, coached by Paul 'Tegat' Davis, who in true Hollywood fashion will be facing Seba, the team he represented for 17 years as a talismatic striker, will be eager to improve on last season's semi-final finish.
However, for those who may be expecting some degree of sympathy from the former national striker, do not hold your breath.
"I am a professional and even though I represented Seba all those years, the only thing I care about is winning that game," said Davis, who is eager to return the team to their first final since 1996.
Last year's beaten finalists Humble Lion will travel to Trelawny to face Holland United FC, with 2010's joint leading goalscorer Kimroy Davis eager to start his account.
"This league has a whole heap of energy, so I'm definitely charged up for it," said Davis, who bagged four goals in the competition.
Goals against Tivoli Gardens, Waterhouse, St Georges and Boys' Town in the final shows there is undoubted class in this attacking midfielder and he will tell you that his biggest strength is his explosive shot.
"I have one of the best shots in the country, any foot, and its' that ability to shoot that makes me so dangerous," Davis shared before expressing his ambitions to see his team go one better this time around.
In other first-round games, Port Morant All Stars host Montpelier (Cotton Tree); Eagle Strikers entertain fellow Portlanders St Georges (Carder Park); Newell United play Sandals Whitehouse (Hunslow); Fraziers Whip welcome Star Cosmos (Spanish Town Prison Oval); Monymusk play Village United (Monymusk Sports Complex); Benfica tackle Police National (Drax Hall) and Downs face Standfast (Downs Community Centre). All games will start at 3:00 pm, except the Arnett Garden-Seba clash which starts at 6:00.
Each winner will progress to round two of the competition which has games scheduled for March 23 and 24 and will also see the entry of the Premier League's elite teams.
Flow continues focus on giving back to the community
Telecommunications giants Flow continues to make good on their promise to give back to society, and the regional cable, Internet and landline entity will be providing funding for the Youth Upliftment Through Empowerment YUTE initiative through the efforts of the participants in the Flow Champions Cup.
For every goal that is scored in the 2011 Flow Champions Cup, Flow, along with regional cable providers SportsMax will be donating $4,000 to the cause.
The YUTE project which has been formulated by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica seeks to facilitate productive options for young people through skills building, counseling and employment opportunities.
The three main streams, which the programme operates, are Employment, Entrepreneurship and Resocialization. Currently it is being operated in communities such as Denham Town, Jones Town, Mountain View, Olympic Gardens, Parade Gardens, Rockfort, Tivoli Gardens and Trench Town.
Director of Marketing at Flow Sharon Roper elaborated in her company's involvement with the programme. "Flow is already a major sponsor of the YUTE programme and will be a part of the job bank for young persons, who will receive special training.
"We will also be part of the mentorship programme and will partner young persons with key managers at Flow to develop their skills set and provide employment opportunities to candidates who have excelled."
Roper added that Flow will be powering the training centres of the YUTE programme by providing Internet connections. Regional marketing manager of SportsMax, Tanya Lee, also weighed in on what is a fruitful and worthwhile relationship and initiative with Flow.
"It is always important for corporate entities to give back to society in a meaningful way, and the Flow Champions Cup and SportsMax through our kind gesture will maintain our position as being good corporate citizens," said Roper.
The charitable aspect of the Flow Champions Cup is in its third year. In year one, Flow provided funding for the Whole Life Ministries, while year two saw the goals for Haiti project.
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