Title sponsors Red Stripe Jamaica have planned an action-packed semi-finals entertainment package following the two preliminary match days remaining in the nation’s top flight.

The Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) resumes next Sunday, April 26 following a two-week break to facilitate the participation of local club Montego Bay United in the Caribbean Club tournament.

Leaders Arnett Gardens (63 points) have secured the $1m prize for topping the preliminary round and are through to the semi-finals, while newcomers Barbican FC (24) will be relegated.

Second-placed Waterhouse (54) have also booked their berth to the semis. Third-placed Montego Bay United (52) are on the cusp of advancing, leaving one place to be decided. Humble Lion (49), Harbour View (46) and Tivoli Gardens (44) are main teams in contention.

On Sunday, Harbour View will host Tivoli Gardens while Humble Lion travel to Montego Bay United in the penultimate set of games, while at the other end of the table, Sporting Central Academy, on 33 points, try to hold off Reno, on 31 points, as both teams battle to avoid relegation.

With so much at stake, Toni-Ann Reid, Red Stripe’s assistant brand manager, noted that the remaining preliminary games will begin simultaneously.

“The league has been very exciting this year and the clubs are playing at their best and as such, the points standings are very close. So in an effort to keep everything on the up and to ensure that the FIFA Fair Play is being upheld, the Jamaica Football Federation, along with the Professional Football Association of Jamaica have decided to start all matches at the same time,” Reid told the Sunday Observer.

“It is always better to be safe than sorry,” she added.

“Red Stripe is very excited about the semi-finals…in usual Red Stripe style, we will be coming with half-time entertainment, pre-game entertainment and a lot of analysis.

“It’s going to be Sunday/Monday matches for the semi-finals and a Monday match for the final,” she explained.

There will be five grand prizes of $500,000 each and a total of 70 prizes of $50,000 each. Patrons will have to look for the unique codes under the beer crowns or on the scratch cards found in the six-packs, then text in the codes to have a chance to win.

PHOTO: TONI REID

CAPTION: Toni-Ann Reid (left), Red Stripe’s assistant brand manager, in dialogue with Dennis Brooks of Nationwide during the last leg of the RSPL Player Development programme.