KINGSTON, Jamaica – Sagicor Group Jamaica has renewed their sponsorship of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) to the tune of $8m and has taken Vere Phoenix United under its wings.

The insurance giant, which said they are big on health and supporting the development of communities, said football is the perfect synergy.

The announcement was made during a press conference on the terrace of the R Danny Williams building in New Kingston on Monday, where Sagicor said it will be providing critical health insurance for players.

Chief Revenue Officer at Sagicor Mark Chisholm, an ardent football fan, who represented Wolmer’s Boys’ in the Manning Cup in the mid-80s, said he was proud to announce the continuation of their partnership with Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL).

“I can still remember when Chris Williams, four years ago, gave me a call. And if you receive the same call, you would know that when Chris Williams called, it was a different matter. It was about building communities, creating opportunities, and strengthening a legacy. I knew it was more than just a sponsorship,” said Chisholm.

He continued: “Today, I’m extremely proud to reaffirm Sagicor’s commitment to the league because time and time again, it has proven to be a partnership that delivers impact both on and off the field”.

“At Sagicor Life, we firmly believe in the viability of all our communities in which we operate, and we are rooted in the well-being of our people and the well-being of the nation, Jamaica, which football is a charge that drives that well-being,” he added.

Chisholm said Sagicor’s investment aims to strengthen the development of football nationwide, providing opportunities for emerging talent to flourish and the communities to rally behind and support the team that is coming from their community.

“This $8m will provide exclusive insurance sponsorship with Sagicor Life as a sole insurance partner of the JPL. We will offer players the opportunity to sign up for our prepaid card.

It is not just the health card, it is doing business and encouraging the youngsters to save funds that they earn through this sport,” said Chisholm.

This partnership, Chisholm explained, extends beyond the game itself. It underscores the extensive benefits of sports that it brings to our society and that physical activity is encouraged through football which plays a critical role in preventing non-communicable diseases and enhancing mental health.

Sagicor has been on board as a sponsor since 2022 when they pumped in $6 million to the JPL and when the team they are aligned with – Dunbeholden — reached the final, they gave them an additional $500,000. Then in 2023, Sagicor increased their sponsorship to $8 million.

Owen Hill, CEO of Professional Football Jamaica Limited, was more than welcoming of the deal, noting that health and wellness are extremely important in a sport where contact is necessary.

“Insurance is a major part of what we need. It’s actually a prerequisite, I would say, for all the players,” said Hill, who used to play for August Town and the University of the West Indies in the Premier League.

“It’s a prerequisite for CONCACAF to ensure that the players essentially have insurance to go forward,” Hill noted.

“So, it was no question when we had that discussion with Sagicor to jump on board again to ensure that we have insurance for our players. We have over 500 players,” he added.

“I’m speaking from the position of I used to play. I understand what it is and I also know exactly, when you have corporate giants like Sagicor onboard, what it means for the global ecosystem,” said Hill.

“Football in Jamaica is very important to our lifeblood. We are in a health and wellness movement. It’s being pushed by the government and the institutions also are ensuring that we continue in that trend”.

“We will ensure that your brand is protected and we will promote as best as possible to the goodness of the country, that Jamaica is the place of choice to live work, raise family and do business,” said Hill.

Meanwhile, part owner of Vere Phoenix United, Craig Butler, welcomed the move citing that he spent $6m on players that got injured recently.

“Look at the word vision. Vision is not seeing what is, but what could be. On behalf of the Vere Phoenix, I wanna thank you very much Sagicor,” said Butler.

“I’ve spent in the last year at least $6m on knee surgeries. I can only imagine what all the other clubs have gone through over the years and to see you come forward in this way makes it very, very important,” he added.

Butler then pointed out that he knew a player who currently walks with a limp as he could not afford the funding to have surgery when he was injured playing football.

“This is something that you have done with your team that really is important to the success. Blessed is he that plants the tree who may not enjoy this,” Butler concluded.