KINGSTON, Jamaica: The football field at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex is being upgraded thanks to a sponsorship from the developer and operator of Highway 2000 East-West.

The first cheque of $1.8 million was presented to Mark Golding, president of Arnett Gardens Football Club (AGFC) by Guillaume Allain, managing director of TransJamaican Highway, to get the works under way. “We needed to move quickly, as we were approached by AGFC for assistance with the field in May 2018 – short time before the start of the season,” Allain said about the sponsorship valued at $3 million.

Allain explained that the football sponsorship is atypical to the company, as they usually partner with schools in communities along the corridors of the highway. However, they saw the sponsorship as a good opportunity to help the club in their CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) aspirations.

The upgrading of the field to CONCACAF standards includes overhauling of the landscaping, pouring soil to make the ground level/even, and laying fresh grass over the improvements to the plumbing and newly installed sprinkler system.

“It was initially expected to upgrade the football field to CONCACAF turf requirements to use it during the CONCACAF league. Unfortunately, the football field was not elected for these games. However, this improvement is still expected to be very beneficial for a long time,” Allain explained.

The TransJamaican Highway managing director also indicated that Portmore United Football Club is to benefit from the repair works.

“We are also pleased to include Portmore United FC in this partnership, as they will be able to use this football field. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to provide assistance to these two clubs at the same time, especially as they represent two communities surrounding our highway,” said Allain.

Allain explained: “To celebrate this partnership, both clubs kindly offered us 50 tickets, which we will make available for customers at the sales office at our Portmore Toll Plaza. This will encourage the Portmore United Football Club in their next CONCACAF League game today (August 30).”

Golding, who also serves as Member of Parliament for South East St Andrew, said the region’s top footballing authority, CONCACAF, will also have input and oversight of the project.

“I want to thank the Highway 2000 East-West team of TransJamaican Highway and Jamaican Infrastructure Operator Limited for coming on board to assist us with this project and to mobilise the work. CONCACAF will also have technical input for the works at the field contracted to Aqueduct Fountain. We hope to be ready for the start of the National Premier League season,” said Golding.