YUTE Benefit Increases from Flow Champion Cup

May 3, 2011

The Youth Upliftment Through Employment (YUTE) Programme has amassed a donation to date of $114,000 from Flow, Jamaica’s triple play digital provider. The figure, which will be matched by SportsMax, could increase by the end of Sunday’s game, as the two companies have committed $2,000.00 each for each goal scored throughout the course of the competition.

Denise Williams Public Relations Manager at Flow expressed support for the YUTE initiative, saying “Flow is truly proud to be a part of such a positive initiative. With the joint incentives of ourselves and Sportsmax not only are we encouraging excellence in athletic performance, but through YUTE we get the opportunity to give aid to young people across the island.”

Over 50 goals have already been scored in the Flow Champions Cup, and with the final set for Sunday May 8 between St Georges Sports Club and Tivoli Gardens; the charity could be in for more bounty when the final whistle is blown.

Already the donations have been put to good use as all eight inner city communities in phase one of the project have begun their pre skills training programme involving some eight hundred young persons.
The Mentorship programme, which is part of the YUTE Works Employment programme, is also in its advanced stage with some 62 mentors trained and deployed to their respective communities.

Melissa Johnson general consultant at Development Options, the company in charge of overseeing the YUTE programme, says the donations have impacted the mandate of the programme significantly; “Flow and SportsMax have led the way in goals for charity project. With their kind assistance, the programme has begun in earnest. Now underway are the Employment Workshops as well as our re-socialization exercise YUTE U-turn.”

Johnson added that mentors and volunteers are still needed for the programme and pointed to a need for male volunteers, “Presently we have about forty seven percent male and fifty three percent females as mentors, and we want to even things out because a lot of our participants are young men who need the guidance.”

Despite challenges the YUTE initiative continues to gain momentum. The latest venture to come on stream is a five week residential Youth Camp , where youngster from the inner city communities will undergo mentorship and training.

The finals in the Flow Champion Cup 2011 season will see St Georges and Tivoli battle for the championship at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex at 6:00pm.

Tivoli on the double

Tivoli Gardens Football Club captain and goalkeeper, Edsel Scott (centre), lifts the Flow Champions Cup after being handed the trophy by Jamaica Football Federation president, Captain Horace Burrell (left, front), while club president Edward Seaga (second right, front) and Nasha Douglas (right), marketing manager, Flow, look on, during the presentation to the Tivoli Gardens team, following their finals win at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex

Premier League champions Tivoli Gardens won their second title of the season when they thrashed St Georges Sports Club 3-0 to capture the Flow Champion Cup knockout trophy, at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday.

Tivoli, who regained the Premier League trophy last weekend, were led to their victory courtesy of goals from national representatives Keammar Daley (43rd), Navion Boyd (90th) and substitute Jameel Thompson (89th).

The Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey-coached Tivoli, who led the team to their third hold on the trophy, credit his team for an exceptional performance in the second half of the game.

"The first half we were playing very flat because we were playing as if we weren't in a final," said Bailey. "However, in the second half, we moved the ball around very nicely and we scored two very good goals," he said.

Bailey, who had made a return to the west Kingston-based side at the start of the season, added that he was delighted to have copped the double this year.

"I am very happy to know that we have won the double this season because I think that we played well throughout, even when our backs were against the wall," Bailey said.

Tivoli swarmed all over St Georges from the opening whistle, but they were denied early on, as their goalkeeper Randal Huie pulled off two spectacular saves to thwart strikers ,Boyd and Roland Dean.

team dominance rewarded

However, Tivoli were awarded a free kick when the fleet-footed Boyd was brought down deep in the St Georges half, this after eluding two defenders.

Daley then stepped up to rifle home a powerful right-footed shot two minutes before half-time, which went like a rocket past Huie and into the back of the net.

Tivoli stepped up the pace in the second half and created a number of clear-cut chances, but they were unable to capitalise.

However, they were finally rewarded for their dominance when Thompson collected a through pass from Daley out of the midfield on his chest, and eluded two defenders before firing a powerful shot from just outside the 18-yard box past Huie.

Boyd killed off the game for Tivoli when he netted his third goal one minute later from point-blank range.

"We played well up to the first goal. However, with five minutes to go and down one nil, we had to go for the equalising goal and that left holes in our defence and they exploited it," said Raymond Gordon, coach of St Georges.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110509/sports/sports3.html

Tivoli await George's in FLOW KO

OPPOSITES do seem to attract, as recently-crowned Premier League champions Tivoli Gardens will face the relegated St George's SC in the highly-anticipated final of the Flow Champions Cup Knock-out football competition this Sunday at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 5:00 pm.

Twenty-six points separated the teams in the premiership, but this is Knock-out football and even if no one else bothers to, the Portland-based St George's will definitely march into the contest full of belief, as they look to round out a generally disappointing year with a historic hold on the All-Island Knock-out crown.

The Geoffrey Maxwell-coached St Georges will be hoping to become the first team from Portland, and in fact the Eastern Confederation, to lift the coveted title — one that would certainly add some gloss to an otherwise miserable season.

Interestingly, the final will be played just three days after the one-year anniversary of St George's last victory over Tivoli Gardens in any competition — a 2-1 triumph at Lynch Park on May 5, 2010, during an unceremonious four-game losing streak by the orange-and-black standard bearers.

League champions or not, it's a result that Maxwell is hoping to replicate and he believes it is definitely possible, once his team approaches the game with the right mentality.

"Though we got relegated from the (Premier) League, the Flow Cup is also a big trophy and the players should have enough motivation," Maxwell said.

"It's all down to the players if they really want to do well. They have to get up and put themselves together. I can only put the tactics in place, but they have to make sure that they are mentally ready for the challenge," said Maxwell.

When asked whether he would have preferred to play Boys' Town — the team that Tivoli Gardens bettered in the semi-final — Maxwell pointed out that he is quite comfortable playing Tivoli Gardens, given their style of play.

"I feel more comfortable playing Tivoli Gardens because they are more technical, they pass and move, while Boys' Town are more direct.

"I'm pretty confident and if we can approach the game in the right condition, anything is possible," Maxwell added.

However, buoyed by their fifth league triumph, Tivoli Gardens are determined to secure their third hold on the KO crown after falling at the final hurdle on two occasions in the last three years.

Tivoli Gardens coach, Alvin Shaw reported that his charges are focused on the task at hand, and removed any suggestion of them possibly taking their opponents lightly. In fact, the West Kingston-based club have postponed all celebrations until after the KO decider.

"It is a tournament that we are taking seriously despite what has happened with St Georges. We won't let our guard down; we will approach the game in a serious manner," said Shaw.

"We are a disciplined team and one of the reasons why we achieve what we have is the discipline that was maintained. They are very focused and we will maintain that," he added.

Winning Team: $1,000,000

Runner-Up Team: $400,000

Red Stripe Star Baller: $300,000

Leading Goal Scorer: $50,000

Winning Coach: $50,000

MVP: $50,000

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Tivoli-await-George-s-in-FLOW-KO_8761216#ixzz1LbG4l7k4

Flow Propels the Business of Sport

May 2, 2011

The Business of Sport conference organizers were delighted to receive a $2 million boost in cash and services from Flow, the nation’s triple play broadband service provider, at the event’s official launch on Monday, April 20.  Denise Williams, Flow’s Public Relations Manager (3rd right), in acknowledging the ‘importance of technology in sports’, says that Flow is pleased to support initiatives such as this, which is geared towards driving social and economic  growth in Jamaica. 

Sports in Jamaica is set to receive another major boost this week with the hosting a special Business of Sport conference which highlights emphasizes the use of sport as a significant economic tool in the region. The symposium is the first of its kind will be powered by Flow, and will take place from Thursday May 5 to Friday 6 at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel. The theme is “Sport, an Economic Driver for the Caribbean."

The event is drawing some of the world’s most prominent sports professionals, marketing executives, government representatives, and academia; including guest speaker Timothy Schneider, President and CEO of Schneider Publishing and coordinator of the biggest sport- expo and conference in the USA.

Attendees will also benefit from the wisdom of a highly experienced panel including Keith Joseph, Olympic Committee Executive from St Vincent and the Grenadines, Remco Tevreden, Executive Director, Netherlands Antilles Olympic Committee, and Miami Heat Sales executive Sherry Andre. Other notable persons include Lisa Bell of the EXIM Bank who will serve as moderator for that session.

The region’s most prominent sports media will join with international sports media to voice issues pertaining to broadcast mediums. Presenters will include Ato Boldon of ESPN, and Jamaican media owners Cliff Hughes and Alston Stewart, will be joined by Steve Wyche of NFL TV who will speak on changing technology in sports viewership, including newer technologies such as the Internet and mobile phones.

As the official technology partner of the conference, Flow is leading the drive to showcase the important role technology has to play with the Business of Sports. Some 250 prestigious international guests will be able to access Flow’s blazing speed internet during the conference. The digital leaders have also made significant allotments for streaming coverage of the event thereby garnering greater exposure for the conference.

Speaking at the launch of the event, Public Relations Manager for Flow Denise Williams remarked, “We see this as the coming together of the best internet technology in Jamaica with an unparalleled commitment to sports. Communication technology is a critical component in the business of sport. As we discuss the business of sport in the two day symposium, let us not forget the part that technology has to play. As in any business, we have to be efficient, effective and competitive.” Williams went on to point out the possible impact that the internet, and features such as videoconference can have on issues such as training, information exchange in reducing cost and increasing exposure for Jamaican athletes.

Denise Williams, Flow’s Public Relations Manager, engages conference organizer,
Carole Beckford, at the official launch of The Business of Sport conference. 
On Monday, Flow committed approximately $2 Million in cash and services, to the two-day
symposium which  is a set to take place on May 5th   and 6th.

Carole Beckford who is organizing the vent alongside Samuda and Johnson, foresees good things to come from the much anticipated event, as she commented, “With new processes and technologies evolving every day, it is important that we keep abreast of global changes, and ensure that we remain in a position to compete against more advanced nations, ” the Flow exec went on to say , ”The Business of Sport conference will provide a much needed support structure for Jamaica and our regional peers to discuss the positive impact of sports on our societies, and how we can further our progress as we enter a new age.”

Admission to the conference is US$150 or J$12,750 with a group discount of J$10,000 for registration of five or more persons. Sponsors for the inaugural event, include FLOW, Jamaica Tourist Board, Jamaica Observer, Jamaica Pegasus, Wisynco (WATA), EXIM Bank, National Commercial Bank, Gordon Dixon and Company, JAMPRO Mona School of Business, KLAS Sports Radio, Price Waterhouse, First Global, Brand Warriors and LockerRoom Sports.

Flow National Basketball League Players lending their support to National Reading Day - May 3rd

On Tuesday, May 3 National Reading Day, players from the Flow National Basketball League along with executives from its coordinating body Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA), will join in a groundbreaking initiative against illiteracy. The members will carry out various literacy exercises as part of the league's Reading is Key campaign launch. Making strides to promote reading as an important life skill tool to kids in the age group of 5-10, representatives from the leagues major sponsors - Flow, Burger King and Malta will head to the class rooms to join forces with several schools across the island.

In an effort to give back to local communities, players will make stops at schools island-wide to enforce their educational message. Within the southern conference, players will visit institutions across the corporate area, including Clan Carthy Primary, Providence Methodist Basic School and Allman Town Primary. From the eastern conference, Port Antonio Primary students will be engaged, while out west the league's players and executives will carry out sessions at Barracks Road Primary. Activities at Mandeville Primary and Junior High School will round out the league's Central conference participation.

“Reading is Key" forms part of JaBA and the league’s overall thrust which is not only to provide a platform through which to develop players' on-court abilities, but critically also to create positive and active community role models. The effort uses the popularity of sports and recognized athletes to stimulate interest in reading among youth.

The day's programme will involve interactive reading sessions including student friendly discussions in hopes that all will experience reading as fun while viewing knowledge as key. Public Relations Manager for Flow, Denise Williams states, “As a part of the Information and Communications Technology sector, Flow recognizes the importance of literacy and education to the development of Jamaica. We are proud to put forward this program, using sports and mentorship as the vehicle to encourage our children to read, and to help them become future agents of progress.”