Left to right is Crestin Boxhill, President of the Jamaica Football Federation, Barbados striker Norman Forder, Jamaica Reggae Boyz' Jermaine Taylor, Captain Horrace Burrell, Vice President of the Caribbean Football Union and Digicel Group Marketing Director Ben Atherton with the Digicel Caribbean Cup trophy.
At the launch of the Digicel Caribbean Cup 2006/7 in Kingston, Jamaica the tournament sponsors announced changes to the final round format and an increase in funding.
Twenty five Caribbean teams will compete for the Digicel Cup in a series of matches running from 2 September 2006 to 11 February 2007. During this period 73 matches will be played.
Prize money will now be paid to all qualifying group winners and the cup winners will receive US$120,000.
Captain Horrace Burrell, Senior Vice President of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and Executive Member of CONCACAF, welcomed Digicel's increased investment in Caribbean football at the DCC launch event, "By continuing to invest in the growth of the region's leading tournament, Digicel is playing a key role in the development of football talent in the region. An expanded Digicel Caribbean Cup with a final tournament similar to other international competitions will help young players gain experience in international tournaments, improve their skills and ultimately assist future World Cup qualification campaigns."
The programme for the Caribbean Cup starts with an opening round hosted by Antigua & Barbuda, Cuba, Curacao, Guadeloupe, Jamaica and the US Virgin Islands. After a second round to be held in November the eight teams competing for a place in the finals will meet in Trinidad & Tobago during February 2007. sixteen matches held over two weeks will decide the Cup winners.
Reigning Digicel Caribbean Cup Champions, the Reggae Boyz, recently handed back the trophy to the CFU ready for the new tournament.
