THE St Thomas FA launched its boys’ Under-13, Under-15 and girls’ Under-16 competitions at a function at the Village Green Restaurant in Morant Bay on Friday with the assurance that the St Thomas Co-op Credit Union would remain the main benefactor.

General Manager of the financial institution, Hopeton Morrison, said his company could not increase its sponsorship dollar due to the prevailing economic climate, but vowed to match the $1 million it contributed last year.

But he promised that all things being equal, the sum would be topped up next year “to reflect inflation for the period”.

President of the St Thomas FA, Wayne Thompson, thanked the sponsor for the tremendous support over the past 15 years and further encouraged the principals and coaches to be the judge of the partnership in terms of the quality and impact of the competitions.

He reiterated the importance of a synergy of sports, education and entertainment in the development of communities, and pointed to the fact that already this had begun to bear fruits in the parish.

“The progress of Javahn Christopher of Seaforth High and Alvis Powell of Paul Bogle High who are part of the National Under-15, speaks volume of what we are trying to do here,” he said.

Third vice-president of the Jamaica Football Federation, Raymond Anderson, who represented president Captain Horace Burrell who is stuck in Europe as a result of the airspace shutdown due to a volcanic eruption, commended the parish on its approach to youth football development.

The marriage of education and sport, and football in this case, was lauded by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Audrey Sewell, who delivered the main message in the unavoidable absence of the minister, Andrew Holness.

She spoke about the importance of sports and “the development of healthy lifestyles and the lessons that are learnt in terms of discipline and teamwork”.

Also attending the ceremony was energy minister and Member of Parliament for St Thomas West, James Robertson, who used the opportunity to announce, among other things, his sponsorship of $275,000 to York Sports Club who are aiming to top the Eastern Confederation Super League.

The opening ceremony for all competitions will be held today at 1:00 pm at the York Sports Complex. Twenty-Five teams will participate in the Under-13, nine teams in the Under-15 category, while three will do battle in the girls’ Under-16 with Bath Primary and Junior High the defending champion.

Other notables attending Friday’s function were Sports Development Foundation ( SDF) chairman David Mais and Social Development Commission (SDC) parish manager Lorraine Roberts.