(Jamaica Observer) While the players celebrated their accomplishments from the past season, gloom hovered over the future of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Cricket competitions, as title sponsor GraceKennedy has threatened to withdraw its sponsorship support should there be any further indiscipline.
The stern warning was given by the company’s Chief Executive Officer Don Wehby at an awards ceremony at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Visitors’ Lodge on Monday. The caution arose from an ugly brawl between players and supporters of Excelsior High and Eltham High schools immediately after the final of the Twenty20 competition at the Melbourne Cricket Club recently. The former had won the contest by 45 runs to capture the title before the players and spectators engaged in the fracas.
ISSA opted not to present the championship trophy to the urban area winners then.
Though not the sponsor of the Twenty20 competition, Wehby was adamant that he would not allow GraceKennedy’s brand to be tarnished. However, he hinted at his company’s interest in sponsoring the tournament next season. “It doesn’t matter; it is the same players and it is the same schoolboys’ cricket and we don’t want to be associated with any indiscipline. Once it is investigated and it is done in a very transparent manner, if the disciplinary committee says that there is no sanction then we always respect that,” Wehby told journalists.
“I am actually hoping that we can reach an agreement with ISSA to sponsor the Twenty20 because it is not being sponsored now, so hopefully we can work out an agreement with them,” he added. GraceKennedy is reported to have spent approximately J$10 million for its sponsorship on an annual basis, which is an accumulated investment of over J$150 million in cricket over the past 15 years.
“We have been in a partnership with ISSA for a long time and we have been through some ups and downs, but one thing that I can say this afternoon (Monday), not in the form of an announcement, but GraceKennedy will not support any sport that bears indiscipline,” declared Wehby. “I, as the group CEO, will not hesitate to withdraw GraceKennedy’s sponsorships from any sport that bears indiscipline, so I would expect that the disciplinary committee will meet very quickly and be very decisive as it relates to any sanctions on the schools. I am extremely disappointed and I will not allow GraceKennedy’s name to be associated with such behaviour,” he added.
Meanwhile, Eltham’s all-rounder Ramone Francis and perennial kingpins of schoolboy cricket, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) were the toast of the awards gala.
Francis amassed 1,004 runs for the season, while taking 61 wickets, which included five seven-wicket hauls in the Grace Shield tournament.
