Reno, toast of Flow Champions Cup Awards

BY SANJAY MYERS Observer staff reporter

Saturday, December 20, 2014    

WINNERS Reno FC were predictably the toast of the Flow Champions Cup Awards Ceremony held at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) headquarters in New Kingston yesterday.

Reno, former giants of local football, have enjoyed a resurgence of late, gaining promotion to the 2014-15 Premier League and winning the 2014 Flow Cup Knockout title after defeating western rivals Montego Bay United 4-3 in an enthralling final in Catherine Hall, St James, in late November.

Reno were awarded $1.5 million and the winners’ trophy, while their lethal goal-poacher Craig Foster was given the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Foster’s four goals in the KO tournament also handed him the trophy as top goalscorer. The 23-year-old striker took home $70,000 for the MVP award and $55,000 for the scoring feat.

Foster, who scored a treble in the final, said it is “great to be rewarded” for his scoring exploits. Dino Williams of Montego Bay also scored three times in the final, but it was Reno substitute Dwayne Blake who got the game-decider in stoppage time.

Patrick Graham, the head coach of Westmoreland-based Reno, also won a trophy and cash prize of $55,000.

Reno and Tivoli Gardens FC were the top-scoring teams in the tournament with nine goals a-piece. A total of 66 goals were scored in 25 games.

Nicole Campbell, the sponsorship manager of Columbus Communications, Flow’s parent company, said it was a “very successful” Flow Champions Cup which featured “an epic final”.

Despite the corporate partnership developments involving Columbus Communications, Campbell said the cable, Internet and landline company “is set to continue” its participation as “title sponsors for the Champions Cup in 2015″.

The 2015 edition will be the final season of a three-year deal with the JFF and the Professional Football Association of Jamaica (PFAJ).

Captain Horace Burrell, the president of the JFF, congratulated the participating teams and gave special praise to Reno and made mention of the club’s significance in football development in the country.

While acknowledging Flow’s continued support, the JFF boss urged increased sponsorship in local football and said the Champions Cup KO offers “an excellent way to invest”.

The PFAJ chairman Edward Seaga, in giving his support to the competition, said the final was a memorable one.

“It has been a long time that I have seen a game that was as exciting and as competently played as in fact happened in the final of the competition in Montego Bay,” said the 84-year-old former Prime Minister of Jamaica.

Montego Bay, the current Premier League title-holders, were given $440,000 for placing second, while Harbour View FC won $220,000 for finishing third.

Waterhouse FC, the previous champions, were not able to defend their title after failing to show for their match versus hosts Montego Bay United. Waterhouse had sought a postponement, citing that a number of their players were ill with suspected cases of the chikungunya virus. But organisers turned them down, saying the deadline for such a request had passed.

Referee Karl Tyrell, his assistants Keble Williams and Terrence McKenzie and fourth official Denton Parchment were also recognised at the ceremony.

The 2014 Flow Champions Cup KO consisted of 14 parish or confederation winners as well as the 12 Premier League teams.

The budget for the tournament, including the television production, was said to be in excess of $25 million. Flow also awarded the top-scoring team for each round with $50,000. The prize money is intended for a charity cause of their choice within their community. Clinics were also hosted by a sports psychologist to aid players in their mental preparation for games.

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Reno, toast of Flow Champions Cup Awards

PHOTO: Champions!

Cedric Blair (left), managing director of Red Stripe, and his team are jubilant as they accept the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA) Manufacturer of the Year trophy from Governor General Sir Patrick Allen (right) at the JMA’s 46th Annual Awards Banquet at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston Thursday Night. Further coverage on Pages 4, 6 & 7. (PHOTO: KARL MCLARTY)

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PHOTO: Champions!

Premier League champions MoBay United host Rivoli United Sunday

PAUL A REID Observer West writer

Thursday, October 16, 2014    

TUCKER, ST JAMES — DEFENDING Red Stripe Premier League champions Montego Bay United will hope to make Rivoli United’s third trip to western Jamaica in 11 days another losing one when they meet in a first-round game at Wespow Park on Sunday afternoon.

Rivoli United lost back-to-back games to Reno FC at Frome Sports Grounds last week Thursday in the Flow Champions Cup KO, and then got a big 5-1 whipping on Sunday in the RSPL.

Despite this, Rivoli United are above Montego Bay United in the point’s tables — one point and two places — but have never won at Wespow Park.

Rivoli United are in fourth place on eight points while Montego Bay United are in sixth place with seven points.

Montego Bay United will be full of confidence coming into the game after a 2-0 win over promoted Barbican FC at the UWI Bowl last weekend, their first away win of the season after losses to Waterhouse and leaders Cavalier SC.

Strikers Allan Ottey and Omar Gordon will be expected to lead the Montego Bay United attack as they seek their third win and keep their unbeaten home record intact.

Montego Bay United have scored five of their seven goals at home and have conceded just once in Montego Bay, in a 1-1 draw against Reno in the opening round.

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Premier League champions MoBay United host Rivoli United Sunday

$2.3-m Flow Champions Cup back on

JAMAICA’S premier knockout football competition, the Champions Cup, will again be sponsored by Flow following a year’s absence.

To be called the Flow Champions Cup, the competition returns more concentrated to include the champion teams from the 14 parishes, along with the 12 National Premier League teams with an increase in the sponsorship take-home dollars to teams.Following a one-year hiatus, the premier national football knockout competition is back with teams vying for a share of $2.3 million on offer. The competition will be played over an eight-week period starting next week Wednesday. For the first time in the competition’s 22-year-old history, the Flow Champions Cup competition will be played under lights during games contested in the semi-finals and final.Donovan White, vice-president of sales and marketing at Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited, operators of the Flow network, made the announcement at a gala press launch at the Barbican playing field in St Andrew, yesterday.And after stepping aside for one year to make great provision for greater participation, White explained: “We did not leave the competition, far from it. When you think of it, last year was a difficult year for a number of reasons, one of which we did not believe that playing the competition at the end of the football season was doing the best thing for football, and what we are trying to achieve through the sport.“And so we thought it would be best to delay the next competition to the start of the football season when all the energy was moving in the right direction. You have the synergy of playing alongside the Premier League at the start of the season when everybody is up and about. With this move we thought that we would have given everybody a chance to have that opportunity to see both competitions in action when players are primed for competition.”He added: “And what we have done this year is to really take on the responsibility to reinforce the concept of night football from the quarter-finals on through to the final. We’ve brought live TV to the game, we are going to bring live radio to the game, and we have introduced Robbie Earle and Aaron Lawrence to the game…. to give some tips and get working.“And so we feel that we’ve brought a little razzle dazzle with a difference to the football with a KO element. Football is an exciting game, as you must have a winner. We at Flow are very excited about this year, and think it is going the be the best Flow Champions Cup ever, and we plan to build from there.”Following what appears to be a rescue package of this year’s Flow Champions Cup, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Captain Horace Burrell was heartened by the return of Columbus Networks to again sponsor the event for what he believes is their correct role of sponsoring football.“Football,” Captain Burrell declared, “is by far the most popular sport in the world, and in Jamaica there is no difference where this is concern. So Mrs English (Michele), you have chosen a winner. English is president and chief operating officer of the Barbados-based company.“Let me say, I do not regard sponsorship where company is coming in to hand out something sponsorship in football is a partnership, and I am very, very elated this morning that you have seen it fit to partner with us. I can tell you that the benefit that should accrue to you are so numerous that you would come to us before we come to you going forward, and I must really thank you.“Flow, as you know ladies and gentlemen, has been out of the frame for the last year, and it was very difficult for us to continue this competition, but I am so happy this morning realising that Flow has indeed returned and will be the sponsors of this year’s competition,” Captain Burrell added.Looking at the prospect for the future of the Flow Champions Cup and football as a whole, the JFF boss said that the presentation by White, that the prize money has been increased, “is a right move”.Meanwhile, chairman of the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA), Edward Seaga, praised Flow for arousing community interest and camaraderie as a game of football did in the old days, through the staging of Flow Champions Cup competition among the 14 parishes.“We are heartened that Flow has taken the competition back to the country for the teams that were parish leaders and winners to now represent their communities, and this is a step that could get rural and deep-rural areas back into competitions,” he said.Meanwhile, Round One of the Flow Champions Cup KO competition begins with 10 matches. Five on September 11 and another five on the 12. Next week Wednesday will feature the first five games with Savannah SC vs Holland United; Highgate vs Axum Sports Club; Barbican vs Exchange United; Humble Lion vs Cavalier SC; Port Morant United vs Eagle Strikers. The following day will then feature Sporting Central vs Jamalco FC; Black Star FC vs Logwood United; New Green FC vs Reggae Youths; Sandals Whitehouse vs Rivoli United; and Montego Bay United vs Rockfort FC.From left, David Shirley, Managing Director LockerRoom Sports; Michele English, COO Columbus Communications, Barbados; Edward Seaga, president, PLCA; and Captain Horace Burrell, president of the JFF, during yesterday’s launch of the Flow Champions Cup at the Barbican playing field. (PHOTO: KARL MCLARTY)

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$2.3-m Flow Champions Cup back on

AC Milan, Celtic reach Champions League group stage

Sport

Thursday, August 29, 2013

LONDON, England (AP) — Seven-time champion AC Milan avoided another early-season hiccup by reaching the group stage of the Champions League with a 3-0 win over PSV Eindhoven, and Celtic produced a stunning comeback to join them yesterday.After a 1-1 draw in a tense first leg in the Netherlands, Kevin-Prince Boateng scored twice and Mario Balotelli added another to ensure Milan won the play-off 4-1 on aggregate and advanced to today’s draw.At Glasgow, Celtic beat Shakhter Karagandy 3-0 to overcome a 2-0 loss in the first leg. James Forrest’s stoppage-time goal gave the Scottish champions a 3-2 win on aggregate. Real Sociedad and Zenit St Petersburg also advanced yesterday along with Plzen, who progressed after beating Maribor 4-1 on aggregate.Milan, who had a surprise 2-1 defeat to promoted Hellas Verona last weekend in its Serie A opener, qualified for the group stage for the 11th time in 12 seasons.Boateng unleashed a shot from outside the box into the left-hand corner to put the home team ahead in the ninth minute. Stephan El Shaarawy then came close but saw his shot hit the crossbarBalotelli scored his 13th goal for AC Milan since his move from Manchester City with a volley from close range in the 55th after Phlippe Mexes flicked on a corner from the right.“We’re happy. We played a great match. We also played well in the first leg,” said Balotelli, who could not play for Milan in the Champions League last season after a January transfer. “It’s the Champions League and it means a lot to us to do well.”Boateng scored his second goal of the evening after collecting the ball on the left side of the box and firing a shot into the far corner in the 77th minute.Real Sociedad will play in the group stage for the first time in 10 years after Carlos Vela scored twice in a 2-0 win over Lyon. The French side had the upper hand in the first half, but failed to create real chances and bowed out from the tournament 4-0 on aggregate.Zenit booked their spot in the group stage after beating Pacos Ferreira 4-2 for an 8-3 aggregate. Portugal playmaker Danny scored twice for Pacos before Aleksandr Bukharov and Andrey Arshavin added goals to ensure their Russian club qualified for the Champions League for the fourth time.

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AC Milan, Celtic reach Champions League group stage