Impressed after seeing the final of the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup when it was staged here last year, Rohan Ramsahai of Lucky Bakery wanted to do something for women's football in Trinidad and Tobago. And subsequently, his company approached the Eastern Football Association to partner in sponsoring a competition.
The Lucky Bakery Women's Super League was launched at the Barataria Regional Facility yesterday. Among those present were Brian Layne of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation's (TTFF) women's football committee; Eastern Football Association general secretary Neville Ferguson; Even Pellerud, technical director of Trinidad and Tobago women's football and Lucky Bakers directors Rohan and Michelle Ramsahai.
Yesterday, it was announced that Lucky Bakery will sponsor the Premier Division of the women's football league, which will now be known as the Lucky Bakery Women's Super League.
Involved will be 10 of the top teams in T&T, including 2010 champions Real Dimension. Missing are 2009 champions Tobago FC and Petrotrin, who have not accepted an invitation to compete.
"I give the commitment on behalf of the company of sponsorship of $73,000," said Lucky Bakery director Michelle Ramsahai. "It's for three years in the first instance."
League competition will be over two rounds and kicks off on June 12. Winners of the league will capture $7,000 and the Lucky Bakery Challenge Trophy, while the first and second runners-up will earn $5,000 and $3,000 respectively. A knockout competition will also earn $5,000 and the Lucky Bakery Challenge Trophy replica for the winners.
As a stipulation of the Barataria-based sponsors, most matches will be played at the Barataria Oval, but organisers promise to address cost challenges for teams which will come from far distances such as Toco.
"You are one of the few business to actually come forward to sponsor something,"said Layne. "I hope that other businesses come forward and not only help football, but sports in general."
And technical director Pellerud welcomed the injection of funds into the local women's game. Pellerud stated that on-going women's football competition is essentially for the development of the game in T&T.