Wisynco pumps $71.1 million into U-21 league

[Karl]

Wisynco pumps $71.1 million into U-21 league
published: Tuesday | November 13, 2007

Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter

President of the Jamaica Football Federation, Captain Horace Burrell (third left), receives a cheque for $71.1 million in sponsorship towards the Under-21 National League at a press conference at the federation's offices, yesterday. Making the presentation were William Mahfood (left), president of Wisynco; Zachary Harding (second left), advisor to the Minister of Tourism; Kimberly Lawson (third right), sponsorship and events manager, Wisynco; Edward Seaga (second right), chairman of the Premier League Clubs Association, and David Burton, business development manager at Wisynco. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

The National Under-21 (U-21) football league received a significant financial boost yesterday, after a $71.1 million deal, for three years, was inked between the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and Wisynco, local distributors of the Coca-Cola brand.

Coca-Cola Jamaica will be the official sponsor of the league, contributing $23.7 million per annum. The annual sponsorship includes $12 million directly to the teams ($1 million to each team), $5.7 million in media support, promotion and prizes, and $6 million in product support. The deal offers other benefits to the JFF, as Wata will be the official bottled water of both the Cash Plus Premier League and the Coca-Cola National Under-21 (U-21) football leagues. Each team will receive a significant allotment of Coca-Cola, Wata and Coca-Cola's isotonic drink, powerade.

[Karl]

Coca-Cola pours $71.1 million into Under-21 League
Howard Walker, Observer writer
walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, November 13, 2007


Wisynco's managing director William Mahfood (left), presents the symbolic sponsorship cheque of $71.1m to Edward Seaga (second right), chairman of the PLCA. Sharing in the moment are (from left), Wisynco's Zackery Harding, who is on secondment to the Minister of Tourism; JFF president Captain Horace Burrell; Kimberly Lawson, Wisynco's public relations officer, sponsorships and event manager and David Burton, Wisynco's business development manager. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood)
Coca-Cola became the first official sponsor of the National Under-21 League after pumping in a whopping $71.1 million over three years, it was announced yesterday at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) headquarters in New Kingston.

The Under-21 League, which was always played as a curtain-raiser to the premier league, will kick off this weekend, although some finer details are yet to be finalised.

The league is trying to have its own identity, hence the Premier League Clubs' Association (PLCA) is trying to find a suitable day to play the games other than Sundays, where the fans can come out and support the players.

The annual sponsorship package, which is $23.7m a year, will see $12m direct cash going to the teams ($1m to each team), $5.7 million in media support, promotions and prizes and $6-million worth of products.

William Mahfood, managing director of Wisynco, the local distributors of the Coca-Cola brand, said the investment is a solid indication of their commitment to the Jamaican market and this is the first of a few major partnerships to be formed.

Said Mahfood: "At first I was skeptical, so I was a little uncertain about it, but the more I thought about it, I felt that the Under-21 and the premier league have to be developed into very strong entity in Jamaica for football to flourish".

"The recent misgivings of the national senior teams is a reflection, to some extent of the premier league and that is why we have invested on behalf of Coca-Cola. Everywhere in the world Coca-Cola is in this sport. It is the number one beverage brand in the world," noted Mahfood.

The Wisynco deal also offers other benefits to the JFF, as Wata will be the official bottled water of both the Cash Plus Premier League and the Coca-Cola National Under-21 League. PowerAde will be the official isotonic drink.

Edward Seaga, chairman of the PLCA, said it was very difficult securing a sponsorship for a league that was not well-attended and a few knew about.

Said Seaga: "I used to call it the phantom league, because it is there, but you couldn't see it. A sponsorship of the Under-21 programme was not easy to come by".

"For a number of years, some of us have been very concerned about the lack of promotion and attention given to our Under-21 programme. It was treated as a 'B' programme to the premier league 'A' programme. It received no publicity at all.

"We were lucky on an occasion after reading the result of a premier league game, you saw a paragraph at the very end saying, 'the Under-21 played against. and this was the score', nothing else," lamented Seaga. "After all, the Under-21 programme is the principal breach from schoolboy football to the premier league programme."

Captain Horace Burrell, the JFF president, said history was created because for the first time the Under-21 programme is being supported financially in a substantial way.

Said Burrell: "I want to thank Wisynco for having the kind of vision to take on this very important programme. If there is no vision, the people will perish and therefore to the sponsors I want to commend you on the vision."

"It is one which will go a far way in helping Jamaica's football to once again reach very high levels. You may not tomorrow see the benefits, but in the long term, you will see the tremendous benefits," noted Burrell.
He continued: "Around the world, Coca-Cola is associated with sports in general and football in particular and I have been asked on numerous occasions 'why is it that Coca-Cola is not on board?' Today, I can answer everyone by welcoming you on board".

Coca-Cola will facilitate the hosting of the Under-21 League on their website - Icokecaribbean.com. The intention is for the site to be used as an information hub for the league with player profiles, results among other features.