Top teams for Sandals Business House football

Top teams for Sandals Business House football
The 2016 staging of the Sandals-sponsored St Ann/St Mary Business House Football Competition promises to be the most competitive ever, according to event chairman Danny Beckford.

Speaking at the press launch on Thursday at Sandals Ochi Beach Resort, Beckford, who is also president of the St Ann Football Association, noted that defending champions Couples Tower Isle will face a daunting task of repeating their win.

He said this is as a result of a number of former champions being in the hunt this season.

Thirteen teams are slated to take part in the competition, which kicks off with a big double-header today at Drax Hall playing field in St Ann. At 4:00 pm National Water Commission (NWC) battle last season's runner-up Gran Bahai Principe, while Couples Tower Isle face highly touted RIU Ocho Rios in the feature match at 6:00 pm.

Couples Tower Isle, Couples Sans Souci, Beaches Ocho Rios, Sandals Ochi, RIU Ocho Rios and Moon Palace make up Zone A. Zone B comprises Gran Bahai Principe, Jewel Runaway Bay, National Water Commission, and Stush in the Bush Enterprises, Noranda Bauxite, Banks United and BH Inside Jamaica holdings.

National Water Commission and Noranda Bauxite are two of the former champions that are returning to the competition after a couple years’ absence, and according to Beckford, their presence will add much excitement to the event.

Brian Roper, general manager of Beaches Ocho Rios, spoke of the importance of discipline during the competition. He also pointed to the fact that Sandals Resort had been sponsoring the competition for the past 24 years, which spoke to their commitment as good corporate citizens.

As sponsors we are very serious about discipline, especially as it relates to starting games on time, Roper noted, while calling on the organisers to ensure teams are penalised for late starts.

Ramel Sobrino, general manager of Sandals Ochi, in welcoming the participants, noted that many footballers received jobs as a result of the competition and urged players to grasp the opportunity to retain employment at the end of the season.

Sobrino stressed his company's commitment in assisting with the development of football in the parish as it played a crucial role in keeping the young men off the streets.
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