HAYES, Clarendon — The 2010 season of the Jamalco Football League got underway last Saturday at Jamalco Sports Club with the alumina company pumping a further $200,000 into this year’s competition — taking the total value of their sponsorship to $1.5 million.

Leo Lambert, manager of the company’s corporate services and government affairs, said they saw it fit to increase their package because the competition continues to be one of their premier community events.

“This football league represents one of the premium events on our community calendar and over the years it has earned itself a central place in community life because more than any other event it (symbolises) the best form of community cohesion,” Lambert said.

“It is a melting pot for business opportunities and it is a key tool that we have been able to call on to identify talents…,” he added.

Michael Ricketts, president of the Clarendon Football Association, lauded Jamalco for their commitment to community football while imploring teams to display high levels of discipline.

“In this time of economic hardship this is no ordinary commitment, so I’m imploring you (the players) to be on your best behaviour each time you take the field of play,” he noted.

The competition is played amongst teams that are located within communities where Jamalco operates.

This year, the championship team will receive $150,000; second place will collect $100,000, while the third and fourth place teams will get $50,000 and $25,000, respectively. A host of other sectional prizes will also be up for grabs.

In the opening game, Peter Brown and Richard Allen scored twice as a star-studied New Bowens outfit, who also picked up $10,000 and the Blossom Laidlaw trophy for the best dressed team, hammered sophomore team South Manchester 11-0 in Zone Two.

On Sunday in Zone Three, Wembley and Raymonds ended 2-2, while newcomers Mineral Heights held Napoli to a 1-1 stalemate at the Wembley Sports Club.