A new three-year agreement between the T&T Pro League (TTPL) and Digicel (T&T) Limited was announced during the launch of the 2014-2015 Digicel Pro League at the Hasely Crawford Stadium VIP Lounge, Mucurapo, yesterday.
And having also acquired majority ownership and control of St Lucia-based International Media Content Limited (IMC), parent company of regional sports broadcaster, SportsMAX, this month, Digicel (T&T) Limited’s Strategic Partnerships and Marketing Manager, Wendy Alleyne said that Digicel looks forward to also integrate the SportsMax partnership into the Pro League.
Huge, but only a fraction of developments revealed on the heels of the new Digicel Pro League (DPL) season which kicks off today (Friday September 26) with a double-header at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya when St Ann’s Rangers meet last year’s runner-up Central FC from 6 pm and Police FC against four-time winners San Juan Jabloteh from 8 pm.
Round One Match Day One will continue tomorrow (Saturday 27 September) from 3.30 pm with Point Fortin Civic hosting two-time runner-up Caledonia AIA at the Mahaica Oval, and simultaneously at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Japs North East Stars will face the Defence Force.
The DPL, with a prize structure amounting to over $2,000,000, will consist of three rounds over the next eight months, and coincide with the First Citizens Cup, Toyota Classic, Lucozade Sport Goal Shield and Digicel Charity Shield knockout tournaments. The incentives for teams to compete at the highest level and improve their standard of play have also received a boost as explained by T&T Pro League
Chief Executive Officer, Dexter Skeene during the launch.
“One of the League’s main objectives is to increase the attendances,” said Skeene.
“We understand the importance that filling the stands plays in contributing to the success of the League. The brand must become synonymous with certain core values. The brand Digicel TT Pro League must convey excitement, energy, quality, excellence and innovation.
“This year we have several new initiatives to assist in achieving these goals.
“First let me state that the first prize is still one million dollars. This year we have added a new dimension where we will now present a monetary prize of $35,000 for the winner of each round of the league competition. In other words each round will have its own table and its own winner [separate from the regular league table]. It will add a new level excitement and give all teams an opportunity to win a different competition at all stages of the season. In addition, each round will be named after one of our heroes who we will always remember.”
Each round winner will receive $35,000 and the Round One Rawle Fletcher Cup, Round Two Akeem Adams Cup, and Round Three Kevon Carter Cup.
Fletcher, 34, who had served the Defence Force football team, was murdered on December 22 in Couva, and eight days later, former W Connection and Central FC player, Adams, 22, died at the Varosmajori Heart Clinic in Budapest after months of battling to stay alive following a massive heart attack on September 25, only seven weeks after he joined Hungarian club Ferencvaros.
The local football fraternity plunged into mourning again on February 27 when another Trinidad and Tobago international Carter, 30, died of a heart attack following training with his Defence Force football team.
Last season Stuart Charles-Fevrier led W Connection to five titles, the Digicel Pro League, the T&T Football Federation FA Trophy, Toyota Classic, Digicel Pro Bowl and Charity Shield and four more titles to defend as well as competing in the Caribbean Club Championship, the qualifier to the Concacaf Champions League, the St Lucian-born coach said that winning the match will surely boost his side’s confidence.
Central FC won the two other titles at stake last year, the First Citizens Cup and Lucozade Sport Goal Shield
Digicel T&T Pro League fixtures:
Today (Friday September 26):
St Ann’s Rangers vs Central FC, 6pm, Marvin Lee Stadium
Police FC vs San Juan Jabloteh, 8pm, Marvin Lee Stadium
Tomorrow (Saturday September 27):
Pt Fortin Civic vs Caledonia AIA, Mahaica Oval, Pt Fortin, 3.30pm
North East Stars vs Defence Force, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, 3.30pm
RELATED NEWS
Pro League signs 3-year Digicel deal.
T&T Express Reports.
A new three-year agreement between the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League (TTPL) and Digicel (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited was announced during the launch of the 2014-2015 Digicel Pro League yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium VIP Lounge, Port of Spain.
It was one of several announcements at yesterday’s official launch. The new season of the Digicel Pro League offers a prize structure amounting to over $2,000,000.
The season consists of three rounds over the next eight months. There will also be the four knockout competitions—the First Citizens Cup, Toyota Classic, Lucozade Sport Goal Shield and Digicel Charity Shield.
The first round of matches kicks off tonight with a doubleheader at the Marvin Lee Stadium, where National Under-20 star Kadeem Corbin is expected to be in action for St. Ann’s Rangers against Central FC from 6 p.m., and Police FC also meet San Juan Jabloteh from 8 p.m.
Tomorrow, Point Fortin Civic host Caledonia AIA from 3.30 p.m. at the Mahaica Oval, and simultaneously at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Japs North East Stars will face the Defence Force.
This season, plans are in the making for a weekly television programme featuring the TTPL, while Digicel, through its CatchOn Sports, will highlight the up and coming players, as well as team stats, not only via traditional media, but online and as a CatchOn Sports mobile app.
Having also acquired majority ownership and control of St Lucia-based International Media Content Limited (IMC), parent company of regional sports broadcaster, SportsMAX, this month, Digicel (T&T) Limited’s Strategic Partnerships and Marketing Manager, Wendy Alleyne said that Digicel is looking forward to also integrate the Pro League into the SportsMax partnership.
Incentives for teams to compete at the highest level and improve their standard of play have also received a boost as explained by Trinidad and Tobago Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene during the launch.
“First let me state that the first prize is still one million dollars,”Skeene said. “This year we have added a new dimension where we will now present a monetary prize of $35,000 for the winner of each round of the league competition.”
“In addition, each round will be named after one of our heroes who we will always remember. Each round winner will receive $35,000 and the round one (winner will receive the) Rawle Fletcher Cup, round two.... Akeem Adams Cup, and round three... Kevon Carter Cup.”