ALTHOUGH the Kingsmen Sports Enterprise aims to build its brand through the purchase of Jamaica’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise, representative Faisal Mirza says it would be “foolish” to not to include the Tallawahs in the team’s name.

Following the Jamaica Observer’s report on February 16, the United States-based Kingsmen, owned by Pakistani-born businessman Fawad Sarwar, were confirmed as the new owners of the returning Jamaican franchise, after a successful bidding process.

The franchise was inactive for two years, after previous owner Kris Persaud sold it back to the CPL, citing a lack of Government support. He later secured the rights to start the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, who have competed in the last two seasons.

The Tallawahs became a household name in Jamaica and the region after winning three titles and boasting local stars such as Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Rovman Powell.

The Kingsmen ownership have incorporated their name into their other franchises, as seen with the Hyderabad Kingsmen in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the Chicago Kingsmen in USA Minor League Cricket.

Although the Jamaican franchise was expected to be renamed the Jamaica Kingsmen, Mirza told the Observer that the Tallawahs name will likely remain part of the new brand when the 2026 season bowls off in August.

“The Tallawahs brand is just so strong — that mindset, that mantra of being small but we [are] tallawah. There’s such a resonance to it that it would be honestly foolish to ignore it,” he said. “So, we want to incorporate that into the brand and into the name — and it’s just a matter of what’s the best-possible way to do that.”

Jamaica Tallawahs celebrate winning the Hero Caribbean Premier League final against Barbados Royals at Providence Stadium in Guyana on September 30, 2022. Photo: CPL via Getty Images

Mirza, though, says Kingsmen wants to build stronger links between the Jamaican franchise and its other franchises while using those connections promote Jamaica internationally.

“Because we’re US based — we have access to a lot US elements, have our own facility and venue here — creating that bridge between Jamaica and Dallas, Texas or Houston is almost as key where we’d like our fans to almost consider both one a home and the other home away from home,” he said.

“We have a PSL franchise so we’d like to have that connection highlighted a bit more too. And again, this is more from an angle of boosting the economy and boosting the product; bringing in a much wider, much more diverse fan base into it that can enjoy that same Calypso spirit that, you know, that is part of CPL and especially one that showcases Jamaica in the in the best-possible global spotlight.”

Mirza says the Kingsmen want to strengthen the franchise’s brand while also helping to promote Jamaica internationally, particularly its tourism industry, through the island’s rich culture.

“Jamaica is the market to be in. When it comes to the Caribbean it’s the place where you want to go in terms of a tourist destination, vacation spot, economy, sporting achievement. I think it’s so key to really tie into that, and I think that’s where the synergy will come from,” he said.

“In the short term we’d like to see on-field success, we’d like to embed ourselves and the team into the local fabric, but I think the real long-term success will be really engaging with the fans year-round — making sure they’re involved with the franchise, with the team — and taking that almost terrestrially around the world, showcasing that Jamaican Tallawah spirit, showcasing to the world what Jamaica is all about.”

Mirza added, “We’re already talking to the Government in trying to forge ways ahead to create packages and tourism incentives for people to start coming back in a little more. Obviously we know how Hurricane Melissa has impacted the island and we want to see how we can help with that.

“Overall, I think we want to look at building on tourism. We want to look at different elements that we can bring in that, hopefully, catalyses more economic activity, and work with key players and corporate entities — as well as Government — and make sure that we can capitalise on both bringing those sort of added visitors in, but also to activate economic activity to work with and collaborate to build it to an even higher standard.”

MIRZA… the Tallawahs brand is just so strong — that mindset, that mantra of being small but we [are] tallawah