McLean

Western Bureau:

The 2009-10 Captain's Bakery-sponsored Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Western Confederation Super Football League, which will yield one qualifier for the Digicel Premier League (DPL) elimination tournament, is slated to kick off this afternoon with a triple-header at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay.

In the opening game at 4 p.m., Granville FC will oppose Prosper FC, in the second game at 6 p.m. Seba United will battle Exidus FC, while in the feature game at 8 p.m. defending champions Wadadah FC will battle Reno FC, who were relegated from the DPL last season.

Because of the presence of Wadadah FC, Seba United, Violet Kickers and Reno FC, who are all former premier league champions, some fans have already labelled the competition the 'Western Premier League'.

straight league format

"This is an opportunity for the clubs to showcase what they have to offer," said confederation chairman Linnel McLean. "Hopefully, the teams that win will be ready to go all the way back into the Digicel Premier League."

Unlike recent years, which saw the competition having a semi-final and final format, this year's competition will feature a straight league format with the team accumulating the most points emerging as the champion.

"We will be using the league format this year but we will still have a mid-season final," said league coordinator Marline Brown.

"The team with the most points at the end of the season will emerge as the confederation champions and will go on to the premier league elimination."

In addition to a place in the premier league elimination tournament, the winning team will also take home the Captain's Bakery Trophy and a cash prize of $150,000. The beaten finalist will take home $75,000, while third and fourth-place will pocket $50,000 and $35,000, respectively.

solid pedigree

The other competing teams also have solid pedigree, being all former parish champions. They are: Granville FC (St James), Prosper (Hanover), Exidus (Trelawny), Montpelier (Hanover), Petersfield (Westmoreland), Frome FC (Westmoreland), Catherine Hall (St James) and Bamboo (Hanover).

"We have some very good teams in this league and we are hoping that we will see some good football," said McLean, who is also president of the Trelawny Football Association.