THE Junior High Schools Sports Association (JHSSA) is badly in need of sponsorships for their football and netball competitions which are both slated to begin next week.

This is the view of Derrick Brown, co-ordinator for both sports since the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) surrendered its sponsorships for the past four years.

Brown, who is the president of the four-member committee of JHSSA, said INSPORTS ended its longstanding sponsorship without giving any reasons.

"So far we have been struggling with both competition for the past four years and hope that a sponsor or sponsors will come forward to assist us this season," Brown said.

He said for the football competition, they have to be paying referees and rental for fields, while this also goes for the netball competition.

The JHSSA president said with not many schools entering the football competition, it could cost approximately $500,000 to stage, including fees for fields, referees, trophies, medals and paper work.

Brown said a similar situation obtains in netball, with INSPORTS no longer playing a role. The organisers, therefore, have to find funds to pay mpires and rent courts. This competition will cost approximately $150,000 to stage.

"We are desperately hoping that a sponsor, or sponsors, will take up either one of the competitions, or both," Brown said..

The football competition was slated to begin this week but has been postponed due to the inclement weather. It is expected to get underway next Tuesday and on Thursday.

Thirteen schools have entered the competition, with Maverly being the defending champions, having beaten Greenwich 2-1 in the final last year.

The teams have been divided into three groups, with the top two advancing to the semi-final round in two groups of three, and the winners qualifying for the final.

Matches scheduled for the first round of the football competition are: Constant Spring vs Seaward at 11:00 am; Cockburn Gardens vs Windward Road at 12:30 pm and Greenwich vs Stony Hill at 2:00 pm at Greenwich playing field.

Schools and their respective zones are: ZONE 1 — Melrose, Constant Spring, Seaward, Calabar and Louise Bennet-Coverly. ZONE 2 — defending champions Maverly, Windward Road, Cockburn Gardens and Mico Practising.

ZONE 3 — New Day, Stony Hill, Greenwich and John Mills.

In the netball league, Maverly are also the defending champions, having beaten Melrose, 28-15, in the final last year. The Opening Rally held last Friday was won by Windward Road, who beat John Mills, 4-2, in the final.

Eighteen teams will be participating, with some schools fielding two teams. Participating schools are Maverly, Windward Road (2), John Mills, Cockburn Gardens (2), St Patrick's, Mico Practising, Clan Carthy, Melrose (2), Constant Spring (2), Greenwich and Louise Bennett-Coverly.

The netball competition begins next Wednesday and will continue on Friday.