Prize money of $117 500 has been budgeted for in an overall cost of $335 710 in the proposed controversial David Thompson Memorial Community Soccer Classic, which is scheduled to kick off on October 23 and end December 3.
Those figures, as well as performance fees of $68 000 and uniform costs of $30 000, were contained in a letter sent by tournament coordinator Hamilton Lashley to prospective sponsors, a copy of which was obtained by SUNSPORT.
In the breakdown of likely expenses, $10 000 each was earmarked for referees and security fees, $9 000 for sound systems, $10 500 for team operational costs, $8 000 for marketing, and $7 750 for commentators and entertainment.
Some of the other major expenses include $7 600 for ground attendants; $6 000 for portable floodlights; $5 000 each for the tournament coordinator fees and the secretariat; $4 800 for footballs; $4 100 for graphics design of logo, brochure and printing; $3 500 for trophies; $3 000 for contingency costs, as well as a further entertainment fee of $5 000 and $3 000 each for sound system and technicians.
Costs for things such as tokens, football nets, flags, catering and banners were also listed.
In the letter, dated September 19, requesting sponsorship and partnership, Lashley said the “introduction of this community football extravaganza will usher in a new and exciting era in community sports initiatives”.
“This kind of competition instinctively brought about social cohesion, forged inter-generational and inter-community linkages and certainly kept the crime figures to a minimum,” he said.
Lashley noted that it was because of such a legacy and spirit that the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development is planning the six-week tournament, which will embrace teams drawn from the 30 constituency councils and involve 540 footballers in a total of 72 matches.
The veteran politician, who has represented both major political parties in the House of the Assembly and also sat as an Independent, said the modern concept of Out-of-Season Football Tournaments (OOSFT) attracts bigger crowds than the Barbados Football Association’s Premier League.
“It is our aim to increase the interest in the OOSFT by changing the perception of football in Barbados in its planning, promotion, administration and implementation,” Lashley wrote.
He said the opening parade and gala would take place in Gall Hill, St John, the home ground of the late Thompson, who he said had “an insatiable appetite and love for community-based out-of-season football tournaments”.
Similiar to the recently launched LIME Pelican Challenge, Lashley said, each team would get a performance fee while players will given stipends.
“This will make this tournament a semi-professional league,” he said, noting employment would be created for vendors, tournament personnel, disc jockeys, commentators and entertainers.
The breakdown of team prizes was not outlined.
A full colour brochure will be used to launch and market the event while a competition logo will be placed on all promotional material and official documents for the competition.
Playing days are Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at various grounds across the country, with six matches played nightly at selected venues in the preliminary rounds.
