– Advertisement –
By Neto Baptiste
Clubs are set to benefit from a partnership between the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) and the Calvin Ayre Foundation with the business entity announced as the main sponsor for the 2025 Women’s Football Competition set to kick off on September 20.
The FA’s technical director, Sowerby Gomes, revealed during an interview on the Good Morning Jojo Sports Show, that apart from covering expenses associated with the running of the league, they will also outfit all of the competing teams.
“It’s the ABFA Calvin Ayre Females Football League, and that will be starting right here at the Technical Centre. We are just so happy that we can forge partnership with Calvin Ayre and we are going to be doing some wonders for these girls. They’re the premier sponsor for this league, in fact, so they’re covering all the expenses of the league. They also will be covering prize money, trophies; covering the costs of the referees, and also covering the winner’s stake in this particular league. They are also covering uniforms for the teams taking part,” he said.
At least five teams have shown interest in the league with a sixth still in limbo. Gomes said the Ottos Tigress team is still in doubt.
“We had just around six teams in the knockout tournament and as I speak now, five teams will be taking part in the league. One thing I must say, the organizer, let’s say the owner of Ottos Tigress, who is Rats [Dale Thwaites]. He’s very hopeful that we’ll have a team so we’re not going to sit and try to judge him or write him off, but we are certainly looking forward to have Ottos Tigress being part of this league. If they can’t field a team then we still have to move on without them,” the TD said.
In July, Wadadli United FC won two of three knockout competitions put on by the ABFA as they sought to beef up interest ahead of the women’s league. The other knockout tournament was captured by Empire Trendsetters.
Gomes said prize monies still owed to the winners of the various knockout competitions will be paid in short order.
“They will be getting their prize money within another week but in reality, what was happening on the ground is that the funding in order to pay that money was not there. But now it’s there, they will be receiving their money within another week,” he said.
Matches in the competition will be played at the ABFA’s technical center.
About The Author
– Advertisement –
