THE Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Major League season, sponsored for the first time by Hi-Lyte to the tune of $1.5 million, will have a new format this year.

At a press conference at Liguanea Club yesterda KSAFA head Rudolph Speid told the Jamaica Observer the change was to bring the competition to a “dramatic end” for the first-time sponsors.

Twelve teams will take part in the league which gets underway tomorrow at 3:00 pm. Speid announced that the winners will get $80,000; runners-up $50,000; third $40,000, and fourth, $30,000.

In addition, $600,000 will go towards gear, another $600,000 for referees, with the remaining $100,00 for administrative expenses.

Brown’s Town, Constant Spring, Cooreville Gardens, Molynes, Pembroke Hall and Real Mona are in Zone A. Bull Bay, Duhaney Park, Maxfield Park, Meadforest, New Kingston and Swallowfield will compete in Zone B.

The first five rounds of the five-month long competition, which ends on April 6, consist of 30 games. Rounds 6-11, which is the crosszone set to start on January 5, will have 36 games, with rounds 12-16 comprising 29 matches. The semi-finals are scheduled for March 30, with the grand final on April 6.

Managing director of Hi-Lyte Sport Drink, John Bailey, described the KSAFA competition as the “best-run in the country”, bring social, health and educational benefit to athletes.

He noted that the sponsorship was for one year, though Hi-Lyte has been unofficially associated with KSAFA for many years.

KSAFA official and master of ceremonies, Garth Williams, saw the sponsorship as the marriage of a longtime partnership and praising Hi-Lyte for being the only locally-produced sport drink.

Hi-Lyte’s brand manager, Jullette Hosang, and managing director of Locker Room Sports, David Shirley, who has been associated with KSAFA with 15 years, also spoke at the press conference.