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Don’t take the money for granted!
Sponsorship is the lifeblood of any sports, and without philanthropic individuals and companies digging deep into their pockets to sponsor events, sports as we know it would be very different.
Given our struggling economy and the very limited resources at our disposal, every cent that goes to sports, whether it is the national team or a corner league, is well needed.
Far too often we hear calls from various sectors of the society — from national teams to schools to clubs — begging sponsors to come to their aid. Oftentimes some will go as far as to say that corporate entitles, which earn money in a certain geographical location, have a responsibility to give back to that place, be it in sports or some other social endeavour.
It is against this background that we can understand the anger of the St James Football Association’s president, Orville Powell, at the small turnout to Monday’s launch of the fifth staging of the Steve Bucknor Knockout league.
Powell, as he is wont to do, did not mince his words — or in our local parlance ‘pet or powder’ anyone. He spoke straight from the heart when he described the snub as “disrespectful”.
Unlike the corporate entities, Bucknor is under absolutely no obligation to sponsor any sporting event anywhere. None.
If, however, he wants to give back some of the money he has earned, then it is entirely up to him, and the least the teams can do is to show some appreciation.
Cynics will say that having earned so much from sports, Bucknor owes it to the next generation to help them on their way. But people like Bucknor have done more than their share in terms of giving back and have nothing to prove.
The clubs and the officials should be ashamed of themselves for not turning out to the launch. They are acting as if the world, and in this case the St James FA and Bucknor, owes them anything.
Maybe the clubs in St James have grown complacent because of the great work that has been done by the succession of assertive presidents and executive, who have over the years been able to make this parish the second best in terms of sponsored competitions only behind Kingston and St Andrew.
Perhaps if St James were among those Football Associations that have one competition running, the thinking would have been different.
At the same time, the St James FA might want to rethink hosting a launch at 11:00 am on a Monday morning and give some consideration to those who might have to go to work. Maybe a lunchtime launch or later in the afternoon would be best for all concerned.
Sponsorship is the lifeblood of any sports, and without philanthropic individuals and companies digging deep into their pockets to sponsor events, sports as we know it would be very different.
Given our struggling economy and the very limited resources at our disposal, every cent that goes to sports, whether it is the national team or a corner league, is well needed.
Far too often we hear calls from various sectors of the society — from national teams to schools to clubs — begging sponsors to come to their aid. Oftentimes some will go as far as to say that corporate entitles, which earn money in a certain geographical location, have a responsibility to give back to that place, be it in sports or some other social endeavour.
It is against this background that we can understand the anger of the St James Football Association’s president, Orville Powell, at the small turnout to Monday’s launch of the fifth staging of the Steve Bucknor Knockout league.
Powell, as he is wont to do, did not mince his words — or in our local parlance ‘pet or powder’ anyone. He spoke straight from the heart when he described the snub as “disrespectful”.
Unlike the corporate entities, Bucknor is under absolutely no obligation to sponsor any sporting event anywhere. None.
If, however, he wants to give back some of the money he has earned, then it is entirely up to him, and the least the teams can do is to show some appreciation.
Cynics will say that having earned so much from sports, Bucknor owes it to the next generation to help them on their way. But people like Bucknor have done more than their share in terms of giving back and have nothing to prove.
The clubs and the officials should be ashamed of themselves for not turning out to the launch. They are acting as if the world, and in this case the St James FA and Bucknor, owes them anything.
Maybe the clubs in St James have grown complacent because of the great work that has been done by the succession of assertive presidents and executive, who have over the years been able to make this parish the second best in terms of sponsored competitions only behind Kingston and St Andrew.
Perhaps if St James were among those Football Associations that have one competition running, the thinking would have been different.
At the same time, the St James FA might want to rethink hosting a launch at 11:00 am on a Monday morning and give some consideration to those who might have to go to work. Maybe a lunchtime launch or later in the afternoon would be best for all concerned.