Crimson Dawn, Alliance MoneyGram, McKay Security team up with Sutherland KO

NOTING its goal to strengthen the brand locally, decades-old sporting gear manufacturers, Crimson Dawn, advanced their support yet again for a football competition by partnering with Alliance MoneyGram and McKay Security to sponsor the St. Catherine Football Association ‘Happy’ Sutherland Knockout tournament to the tune of $1 million.

Todd Rhoden, director of sales and marketing, Crimson Dawn, highlighted his company’s path during the competition’s launch and draw for first round matches, late Thursday evening at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) headquarters in New Kingston.

“This is our second major initiative recently where we are coming on board with McKay Security and Alliance MoneyGram as a sponsor in the sporting arena. It’s an opportunity to take back our market and get back our foot into the grassroots of football in Jamaica and build back the communities and build sports in general across Jamaica,” Rhoden pinpointed.

“Crimson Dawn has a 45-year legacy in sports in Jamaica and we’ve always been there on the players’ back, literally, to be that company that provided quality sportswear for all the sports and football in Jamaica and we will continue to try and build that legacy.”

Rhoden, whose company had announced joint sponsorship of Duhaney Park Football Club alongside American Jewellery’s Tech Branch and McKay Security less than two weeks earlier, continued leveraging their target and listed outfitting the Reggae Boyz as a marker.

He said: “The plan is to continue to grow from strength to strength and work with the different associations, work with the different teams at all levels, grassroots right up to national level, where we can continue to supply our goods across the island and be internationally recognised with our teams, representing us here and overseas.”

The ‘Happy’ Sutherland KO, named in honour of long-serving Jamaica and St. Catherine FA executive, former President and life member Lincoln ‘Happy’ Sutherland, kicks off today with a double-header at St. Catherine’s football headquarters, Spanish Town Prison Oval.

In the opening set of matches, Old Harbour Bay will tackle D.B. Basovak at 4:00 p.m. and Newlands will face Naggo Head in the closing fixture at 6:00 p.m. Thirty-two (32) teams are participating, but only 28 will be involved in first-round action as the parish’s Premier League representatives, Portmore United and Dunbeholden, along with last season’s top Super League outfits, Fraszier’s Whip and Tru-Juice, have been awarded a bye.

Sponsorship partner Alliance Financial Services, through its brand Alliance MoneyGram, was represented by Senior Operations Officer, Devonna Coke, who stated their “pleasure to be a sponsor of this very important competition”.

Coke shared: “Our company firmly believes in the development of our young people and new try to provide the channels for them to realise their aspirations and to be the best they can be. Due to this philosophy, Alliance sponsors a number of sports competitions and fund scholarship programmes with the hope that young people can turn their dreams into reality.

Jason McKay, CEO of lead sponsor McKay Security, congratulated the new St. Catherine FA Board led by Mrs. Elaine Walker-Brown, as “doing their best and they are pulling it off”, vowing to “give all the support we can”.

McKay further stated: “Happy Sutherland is a legend. I would just like to thank Alliance Moneygram and Crimson Dawn for partnering with me on this project. The thrust this year is to get as much commercial partners to assist in the football teams, whether they are in KSAFA (Kingston and St. Andrew Football Association) or St. Catherine F.A. because we believe most of these teams are peacekeepers and we’re really trying to do what we can to have more peaceful communities, particularly in Kingston and St. Catherine where we are.”

Mrs. Walker-Brown expressed gratitude and made a call for additional corporate support.

Pointing to the sponsorship value, she said: “It’s very good because at least we can take care of most of the expenses, the hardest part of administration is taking care of the bills. So we must say many, many thanks to them, I’m really appreciative.