For the 11th consecutive year, Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) will once again partner with the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) for its staging of the 2013 JNA/SVL Major and Minor Leagues.

The names of the leagues have been changed in accordance to international standards.

Carlene Edwards, SVL’s sponsorship & public relations manager, made the announcement Saturday during the opening ceremony and rally held at the National Indoor Sports Complex, National Stadium Complex in Kingston, Jamaica.

During her address, Edwards said: “Our sponsorship this year is valued at $5M, which will assist with the running of the leagues as well as the awarding of scholarships to deserving players and coaches.”

In recognising SVL’s support to youth development, Edwards further stated that: “As a company, we see the development of our youth through sport, as a major vehicle through which we can build a solid nation and it is this conviction that continues to drive our corporate citizenry and support of projects that have great impact on youth development.”

Edwards added: “We are also happy to announce that we will be awarding six scholarships valued at $500,000 to members of the winning and runner-up teams, as well as two scholarships valued at $200,000 to a coach in both the Major and Minor leagues respectively.”

Marva Bernard, president of the JNA, in applauding the long-standing partnership with SVL said: “It is clear to anyone looking on that Supreme Ventures Limited is an outstanding investor in netball in Jamaica, as this partnership started in 2002 when the company inherited and kept sponsorship of our C league, associate sponsor of the 2008-10 Sunshine series and since 2011, as title sponsors of the Series as well as covering the costs of having the internationally renowned coach Jill McIntosh here in Jamaica in 2011 and assisting with the education of players and coaches.”

Additionally, Bernard used the opportunity to announce that: “The projected start date for the next cohort of the JNA/UTech coaching programme is early March 2013. SDF has also confirmed that the refurbishing work on the playing surface at the Leila Robinson Courts will be done this year.”

The JNA/SVL Major & Minor leagues have attracted a total of 48 teams, 16 in the Major league and 32 in the Minor league, respectively, which represents the first time in the competition’s history that so many teams will participate.

Teams competing in the JNA/SVL Major League are: Alpha, Blades United ‘A’, Ebony Strikers ‘A’, Friendship, Jetsetters ‘A’, Jobs Lane United ‘A’, Leiba Gardens, Molynes United ‘A’, Omega ‘A’, Police ‘A’, Raven ‘A’, Rivoli United ‘A’, Speg ‘A’, Tivoli ‘B’, UWI Pelicans ‘B’ and Waulgrovians ‘B’.

While in the JNA/SVL Minor league the teams are: Braeton United, Department of Correctional Services, De La Vega, Drewsland, Duhaney Park Strikers, Edna Manley Strikers, Exed Saints, Fresh Approach, Genesis, Global United ‘B’, Greenwich Town ‘A’, Greenwich Town ‘B’, Hagley Park ‘B’, Hannah Town, Liguanea United ‘B’, Maxfield Park ‘C’, Molynes United ‘C’, Omega ‘C’, Payne Land, Pembroke Hall ‘A’, Pembroke Hall ‘B’, Progressive Strikers, Rollington Town ‘B’, Southboro, Spanish Town ‘A’, Spanish Town ‘B’, Skibo ‘B’, Starlight, Tantrum, Top Mountain Flames, Upper Camp and Whitfield Town.

The JNA/SVL Minor leagues will officially ‘shoot’ off on Tuesday with eight matches, while four matches will be contested in the JNA/SVL Major league, which will commence on Thursday.

SVL has contributed approximately $40m to the JNA since 2002, through sponsorship and scholarships in its Major and Minor leagues (formerly the Division ‘A’ and ‘C’ leagues), the hosting of seminars for netball administrators and the outfitting of technical officials in the Sunshine Series from 2008-2010. Since 2011, SVL has also been the title sponsor of the Sunshine Series, involving the Sunshine Girls, England, Australia and South Africa.

SVL has already committed to being the title sponsor of the 2013 Sunshine Series on April 2-6, where Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls will once again face England.