JISA Prep Schools League getting 'Bigga' and better

The 2007 Jamaica Independent Schools Association (JISA) prep school football competition got off to a good start with 40 teams vying for various trophies in five zones.

Title sponsors Bigga soft drinks handed over a cheque for $1 million, expanding their sponsorship spend to include the 2008 track and field competition as well.

In addressing the teams at the official opening ceremony, David Burton, business development manager for beverages at Wisynco, highlighted the importance of a commitment to football from its early stages. He lauded the organisers for the competition and encouraged the youngsters to become well rounded.

"It is not only important that we have a skill but that we are grounded in academic developments as well," he said.

The JISA prep school football competition was created out of a need to ensure that prep school children could develop their football skills and participate in a sporting league, and Bigga's title sponsorship, the largest since the inception of the decades-old competition, will no doubt make the competition 'Bigga' and better.

Chairman of the JISA sports committee, Cathy Rattray Williams, also highlighted the importance of the JISA prep school league, and welcomed the sponsorship from Wisynco.

"Through JISA, we have been able to ensure that when our young men and women participate in sporting competitions they not only learn a skill, but they become disciplined individuals for life, and so we are thoroughly enthused to have Bigga on board with us as we continue our quest towards bringing out the highest potential in our children," she said.

The first set of 12 matches was played on Wednesday, October 17, with Belair defeating Foundation 13-0. Emmanuel and Liberty played to a 0-0 draw. The JISA prep school football competition is scheduled to end in November.