HAYES, Clarendon — No title sponsor for a second year running, but still, the show must go on.

That was the attitude adopted by the cash-strapped Clarendon Football Association (CFA) at the weekend in launching the 2013 edition of its Division One competition at the Wembley Sports Club.

Since losing its multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal with telecommunication providers Claro, which was acquired by Digicel in 2011, the CFA was left with only one consistent sponsor in the Captain’s Bakery and Grill. But with over five competitions to administer annually, the FA has been employing creative means to finance its events.

“As it is, we have to put on fund raisers to keep things flowing until something turns,” chairman of the Competition’s Committee, Lee Hinds, said.

Despite playing for a smaller championship purse than the usual, there has been no shortage of interest and commitment from the competing clubs. This year, some 16 teams will vie for the Division One trophy and two spots in next season’s Major League.

Two of those teams, Salt River and Emanuel Strikers, got the ball rolling at the weekend in Zone One. In an embarrassingly one-sided affair, Salt River emerged 6-0 winners, courtesy of double strikes from Ian Palmer and Jerome Pringle.

“We have been working hard over the past few months for this competition,” said coach Rayon Johnson, “and I think today we saw a glimpse of what we can achieve”.

“Going forward,” he added, “we just have to work on our fitness because we definitely have the ammunition to go all the way”.

To achieve that feat, Salt River will first have to negotiate their way through an eight-team zone, comprising the likes of former champions Chateau and Black Stars, a potential semi-finalist and finalist.

The competition continues this week with a full slate of matches.