The Social Development Commission (SDC) has congratulated Fairfield United and Angels Masters on their success in the just concluded SDC National Community Cricket Competitions.
Fairfield United from Manchester won the T20 tournament, defeating Links United of St. Ann to secure the $1.5 million prize and their third title in four years.
Links received $750,000 for their effort.
In the Masters competition, Angels Masters from Clarendon emerged victorious over St. Catherine’s Bushy Park Masters, to land the $500,000 winner’s prize.
Bushy Park Masters got the runner-up prize of $250,000.
Both finals were played at Chedwin Park in St. Catherine.
SDC Executive Director, Dr. Dwayne Vernon, congratulated the winning teams on their outstanding victories.
“This achievement not only highlights their exceptional skills on the cricket field, but also underscores the spirit of community, discipline and teamwork that defines this tournament,” Dr. Vernon said.
He noted that the SDC national community cricket competition, now in its 17th year, has always been more than just cricket, pointing out that it is about bringing communities together, fostering unity and promoting positive social values through sports.
Based on the competition’s rules, the teams are required to donate 15 per cent of their prize money to fund projects in their communities.
Meanwhile, Dr. Vernon thanked the sponsors, SDC staff, community stakeholders, patrons and the 136 T/20 and 23 Masters cricket teams participating in the competition, for their contribution to the success of this year’s renewal.
The teams represented approximately 200 communities islandwide.
Among the sponsors were the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Courts Ready Cash, LASCO Financial Services Limited, Wray and Nephew, HEART/NSTA Trust, IRIE FM, Gatorade and Jamaica Cricket Association.
The SDC National Community Cricket Competition is an annual event which forms part of the agency’s wider Sports for Community Development Programme.
The programme is an intervention strategy used by SDC to bolster community engagement, and improve the health and morals of citizens.
It is used to attract and engage residents in a range of exciting, participatory and unifying sporting activities.