Claro St James football leagues begin today
MONTEGO BAY, St James — The new look St James Football Association’s Claro-sponsored leagues will get underway today with a double header at Jarrett Park, starting at 3:00 pm.
The leagues, which will be sponsored by the telecommunications company for just under $13 million over the next four years, were launched on Thursday at the Jamaica Football Federation’s offices in Kingston.
Twelve teams will take part in either league, which will see clubs separated into two groups and the top two from each group after home and away series, advancing to the semi-finals.
The first game today will be a Division One clash between West Green and Rose Mount Gardens, starting at 3:00 pm followed by a Senior League game between Granville City and Tomorrow’s People, set to start at 5:30 pm.
A new innovation that has been added this year is that the top eight teams in either league will get prize monies.
The winner of the Senior League will take home $150,000 with the runner-up getting $90,000; third place gets $60,000 and fourth place gets $40,000. Fifth place, $20,000, sixth place, $15,000, seventh place, $10,000 and eighth place, $5,000.
The teams taking part in the Senior League are — Zone A — Mt Salem, Salt Spring United, Revelations, Barrett Town, Mountain Villa and Salt Spring Roses.
Zone B will be led by last season’s beaten finalists Melbourne Strikers, Granville City, Fogo, ABES, Tomorrow’s People, and Gully Ambassadors.
The winners of the Division One will get $90,000; the runners-up, $60,000, third place, $40,000, fourth place, $30,000, fifth place, $20,000, sixth place, $15,000, seventh place, $10,000 and eighth place, $5,000.