L-R Cayman Islands national football team representative Martin Waud, Vice
President of the Royal Bank of Canada Gordon Crawford hands over the sponsorship
cheque to President of CIFA Jeffrey Webb.

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) in the Cayman Islands has joined a prestigious line up of partners to back the Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) as it prepares the Cayman Islands national senior men’s team for their return game against Bermuda on the road to South Africa World Cup 2010 qualifiers this Sunday.

The announcement was made at the bank’s head office in George Town by RBC’s Vice President and Country Head Gordon Crawford, who handed over a cheque to CIFA President Jeffrey Webb.

In a short speech, Mr Crawford said that his company was impressed with the progress the players were making and felt proud to announce the partnership on behalf of his banking institution. Mr Crawford also pointed out that RBC were no strangers to the sports fraternity as the bank has a 57-year history of sports sponsorship.

“We have a fifty seven years history of sponsoring athletes in Canada and we are very proud to be sponsors of the Cayman Islands national football team. We wish the team great success in their World Cup 2010 qualifying games,” Mr Crawford concluded.

Mr Webb thanked Mr Crawford on behalf of CIFA, saying he was impressed with the support received from this cooperate community, who had come forward at a time when the team needed all the support they can get.

“On behalf of CIFA. I thank Royal Bank of Canada in the Cayman Islands for coming on board at this time when we desperately need sponsorship. We do appreciate this gesture and would be more than happy to have more cooperate sponsors on board at this time,” he said, adding, “This is about our young people the future men and fathers, it’s about sports and this is one of the most basic activities used to bring people together. We really appreciate your support.”

The Cayman Islands will be hosting Bermuda this Sunday, 30 March, when the national teams of both islands will face off in a crucial return game to decide who advances to the next round in the World Cup 2010 Qualifiers. The match kicks off on the Truman Bodden Sports Complex at 7:00 pm.

To advance to the next round, the Cayman Islands needs either to win, or to achieve a 0-0 draw. If the team is successful in moving on to the next round, it will be a first in the history of football in the islands.

Whoever goes forward, the next contenders will be Trinidad and Tobago, the World Cup finalists in 2006.

For more information on the CIFA FA Cup Competition or other CIFA events contact the CIFA office at 949-5775, email info@caymanfootball.ky or log on to www.caymanfootball.ky