A total of 40 teams will this year participate in the Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners (NJBP) Football League. The teams, which are drawn from the company's operating areas of Alexandria, Brown's Town and Discovery Bay, are playing for cash prizes of $300,000 and trophies.

Matches in the league will be held at the Wilson Shop Sports Complex in Alexandria and at the Noranda Sports Club in Discovery Bay. Eighteen teams from the mining communities are playing in one zone, while the other 12 teams from communities around the Discovery Bay plant area have been placed in the other zone.

Competition in both zones started recently with dress parades and a six-a-side competition. Yellant FC emerged winners of the Alexandria zone, defeating St D' Acre FC 4-2, while Farm Town emerged winners in the Discovery Bay zone, defeating Woods Town 3-2.

NJBP Public and Community Relations Superintendent Kent Skyers has urged all teams participating in the league to display their best behaviour throughout the competition.

"At Noranda, we want you to commit yourselves to a high level of discipline on and off the field. By doing this, you can count on our continued support," Skyers told the players at the recent launch of the competition.

The league will run until the end of August.