IF you check the Jamaica Yellow Pages you would realise that Global Directories Limited has taken over the sponsorship of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Jackie Bell Knockout competition.

The sponsorship package is worth $12m over three years, it was announced at the press conference at Jamaica Yellow Pages head office on Constant Spring Road today.

Jamaica Yellow Pages is published by Global Directories which produces local business and residential telephones directories for LIME in Jamaica and other markets across the Caribbean.

Lester Garnett, Jamaica manager, Global Directories Limited, said it is their pleasure to involved sport in Jamaica.

“We recognised the tremendous impact football has on the Jamaican psyche for many years and we welcomed the opportunity to be involved with football,” said Garnett.

“This multi-million dollar, multi year sponsorship is a continuation of our effort to give back to the communities in a tangible way. As a company our major focus in recent years have been on programs to create social change,” he added.

This sponsor by Jamaica Yellow Pages, will be their first foray into sports and marketing manager, Cecelia Bell, a cousin of Wintrope “Jackie” Bell whose hour the competition is named, said this signing represents years of discussion with KSAFA.

“I am really happy that this has come to fruition and the fact is we have been looking at way in which we can impact on the communities and we thought sport was a good way to do this,” said Bell.

“We thought football at the club level is a suitable avenue to do this and to project the Jamaica Yellow pages brand in a positive and meaningful way,” she noted.

KSAFA president, Rudolph Speid, in thanking the new sponsor, for the 24th staging of the competition, said he is delighted that they have decided to come on board.

“Over the years the competition have had five sponsors and this year, KSAFA is pleased to announced the sixth sponsor, the Jamaica Yellow Pages – a first time sponsor of football,” Speid pointed out, to loud applause from the audience.

Thirty (30) teams will participate in the 24th staging of the knock out tournament which kicks off today with six games.

The Jamaica Defence Force will tackle Constant Spring at Up Park Camp; Greenwich Town versus Olympic Gardens at Tinson Pen; Molynes United take on Mountain View at Molynes Field; Allman/Woodford play Real Mona at Heroes Circle; the University of the West Indies (UWI) entertain Duhaney Park at UWI Bowl and August Town against Santos at the Bell Chung Oval. All matches start at 3:00 pm.

The five KSAFA premier league teams in defending champion Harbour View, Tivoli Gardens, Arnett Gardens, Waterhouse and Boys’ Town will join the competition at the quarter-final stage.

The winning team will walk away with $300,000, down from the $350,000 last year. Second-placed team will receive $200,000 with $150 for third and $100,000 for fourth.

The top two non premier league teams will get $50,000 each plus there will be a $5,000 winning incentive for every game won.

“I must thank the Jamaica Yellow Pages for their partnership with KSAFA and you will get every thing you need, “ said Speid in his closing remarks.