There is probably no greater measure of a sporting competition’s success and popularity than the interest of business houses in partnering through sponsorship.

We hear that main sponsors for the annual schoolboy football competition, which begins September 14, are regional television sports network SportsMax, telecoms provider Digicel, fast food giant KFC, and leading food and beverage manufacturer and distributor Wisynco.

Other sponsors are said to include beverage and snack manufacturers and distributors Powerade, Trushake, Pringles; distribution and marketing company Kirk-FP Limited; football equipment supplier Soccer Express; and event producer, marketer and presenter Main Event.

In other words, leading private sector companies operating here appear to be requiring no second invitation to partner with Jamaica’s most popular sporting competition — schoolboy football.

And it appears that participation is on the rise. Eighty-six schools are in this year’s rural area daCosta Cup which is said to be 12 more than last year, while 40 schools are in the urban Manning Cup.

The organiser of schools sport, the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), says innovation will be on show as it strives to make schoolboy football even more popular and attractive.

The association’s president Mr Keith Wellington is reported as saying at the recent launch of the 2024 schoolboy football season: “I think that if we are to grow the product, we have to look at innovative ways each year of changing the landscape, especially where support is concerned, not just from sponsors but from the public… we have to look at what we can do differently to ensure that people remain interested in the sport, not just to play it but to participate as spectators and so on…”

We note Mr Wellington’s insistence that the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) should be showing “respect” and giving “credit” to schools for their role in the development of schoolboy football.

An aspect which can’t be ignored is football’s growing ‘professionalisation’ here.

A proliferation of football academies being developed by clubs and football investors across the country, catering for children from primary school age to the late teens doesn’t only reflect the laudable desire to develop talent. It is also evidence of the desire to earn when that talent is nurtured, matured and traded — preferably to overseas clubs.

News of the contract signing of 19-year-old Mr Kaheim Dixon from Arnett Gardens to English League One club Charlton Athletic underlines the point.

Mr Dixon — already a national player — is just the latest of a long line of talented young Jamaican footballers traded to professional clubs around the world, especially since the late 1990s.

His agent, Mr Kevin Cowan, is reported as having said that Mr Dixon had offers from US Major League Soccer, and clubs in mainland Europe.

Only last season Mr Dixon was a mega schoolboy star helping Clarendon College to the daCosta Cup and all-island Olivier Shield titles.

That last consideration was undoubtedly in his mind as Mr Wellington suggested that given their role in player development, schools should be making arrangements for financial spin-offs when contracts such as Mr Dixon’s are signed.

As pointed out earlier, leaders of ballooning academies and clubs at all levels are thinking along those very lines.

We will watch the rapidly evolving football development scenario with great interest.