SEAN NERO
Local insurer Banker's Insurance and leading TT Pro-League Club Central FC have agreed a deal that makes the financial institution the club's new title sponsor. The terms of the contracts remains private, however.
Construction firm SIS was the title sponsor for the last two years. Carrying the Banker's Insurance name did not mean that SIS was no longer associated with Central FC, though.
While the insurer would have its name emblazoned on the uniform of the first team, the construction firm (SIS) will contribute to the team's developmental initiatives.
The announcement was made at a media conference held at the VIP Lounge at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Woodbrook yesterday.
Vance Gabriel, chief executive officer at Banker's Insurance said when his friend George Romano and member of Central FC asked if the company could play a role in the club, he (Gabriel) began to investigate.
"And to my surprise they were in the news quite often. But in fact, they were in the news for other things rather than football. It struck me therefore as a club with what I will call a social conscience. Subsequent to that telephone call from George, it was followed up by some more calls with led to a meeting with Brent (Sancho) and Kevin (Harrison). I must say that coming from background of service and understanding the humanity. I felt that it would be a good fit," he said.
"The problem of course would be to convince the board. CEO's can dream all that they want. It is for the board to dream that dream as well. What I did over a period of weeks, I cut out all the articles that appeared in the newspapers that involved Central FC. Let me tell you, I have stacks of them. They seemed to be like ants. They seem to be everywhere. When I showed the board the potential, I have to admit that it was not that difficult to convince them."
Sancho said even with the success of the club in the T&T Pro-league and the growing attractiveness it now seemed to enjoy from companies were not traditional aligned to the sponsorship of football, the dream that he and Harrison had when the club started remains.
He said, "Kevin Harrison and I have a dream that is deeply rooted in helping the youth of our nation excel on the national and international stage of football. Our players will come to realise that their freedom is intimately bound to the principles and vision of Central FC. Why join a gang and shoot guns when you can join Central FC and shoot goals?"
Sancho cited the varied social projects which the players were involved from Treat Her Like A Lady, Give Breast Cancer the Boot, a toy drive and a canned food drive. Occasionally, children from the Cyril Ross Home attended Central FC games.
"We get our players involved with the above projects so that they learn about community service�the act of giving back to the communities. We are also engaging several corporate entities to partner with Central FC. They too are slowly coming to realise the benefits that the youths of our nation will derive from the discipline and team building this is achieved within Central FC," said Sancho.
