MONTEGO BAY, St James — Mayor of Montego Bay Councillor Glendon Harris has thrown the full support of the St James Parish Council behind Montego Bay United’s effort to win their Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) first-round Group 3 qualifying tournament in Montego Bay later this month.

Montego Bay United, who were third in last year’s event, will host a three-team group that includes CFU Club champions Central FC of Trinidad and Tobago between February 24 and 28 at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.

Scholars International of the Cayman Islands are the third team in the group that will see just the winners advancing to the Caribbean Football Union finals to be held in late April, where three teams will qualify for next season’s CONCACAF Club Championships.

At last week’s press conference held at the Hotel Grandiosa in Montego Bay, Mayor Harris commended the management of the Montego Bay United club for their “resilience and determination”, adding that “with people like club president, Orville Powell and chief operations officer, Sandra Christie Montego Bay United will continue to move football up in western Jamaica”.

Mayor Harris said the Parish Council would play their part in “further partnering” with the club as “we seek to make Montego Bay the entertainment capital of the Caribbean.”

Former Jamaica Football Federation first vice-president and St James Football Association President George Evans, who brought messages on behalf of the local FA and the Premier League Clubs Association, said the hope was for Montego Bay United to get past the first round and qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League as they did last year.

Having participated last year, Evans said Montego Bay United “would be better prepared for the event this time”.

Montego Bay-based media corporation

Mello FM andMello TV which will be the major sponsor for the competition, last week announced a $7-million sponsorship that will include broadcasting all three games in the tournament.

Hotel Grandiosa will be the host hotel, while Fontana Pharmacy and Grab ‘N’ Go Fairview are also sponsors.

Montego Bay United will take on Scholars International in the opening game on February 24; two days later Central FC and Scholars will meet, while Montego Bay United and Central will play on the final night, Sunday February 28.