September 8, 2004 CPSL Portmore United game postponed (from CPSL website)
NEWS
VISIT OF JAMAICAN TEAM PORTMORE UNITED POSTPONED
The visit this weekend of Portmore United of the Jamaican Premier Division has been postponed due to the threat of Hurricane Ivan to the island.
Portmore was due to play the First Annual Arnold Milan International Cup game against Metro Lions of the Canadian Professional Soccer League at Birchmount Stadium, Scarborough, on Sunday, a 4 p.m. kickoff.
Discussions have already begun to reschedule the game, including with major sponsor Air Jamaica, for a new venue in the immediate future and details will be forthcoming early next week following an assessment of the effect of the hurricane on the team's ability to leave Jamaica.
Soccer in Jamaica has become an industry following the memorable nineties when the Jamaican national team attracted worldwide attention by qualifying for the World Cup Finals in France ’98.
The Reggae Boyz, as the national team players were fondly known, launched a new wave of enthusiasm and excitement resulting in a greater interest in the Caribbean island and Jamaica’s global soccer merchandise sales soared well beyond all expectations.
Suddenly Jamaica, previously known for its tourism, its rum, its sugar, music and world-class track athletes, suddenly and unexpectedly became known for its soccer.
This weekend, Portmore United, one of Jamaica’s top teams was to revive those World Cup memories with a visit to Toronto for the inaugural game of the Arnold Milan International Soccer Cup tournament, the details of which were unfolded at a press conference held in Toronto on Tuesday. Arnold Milan is an entrepreneur, owner of several companies and owner of the Metro Lions Soccer Club of the Canadian Professional Soccer League and he’s determined to do his part to assist the further development of soccer in Canada
“I think more visits from good soccer teams from other countries will help strengthen the game here in Canada and that’s the reason for introducing this trophy,” he announced to the gathering. “CPSL teams play good soccer and the challenge of such visits annually will help raise the game.”
Milan has indicated that he and his club will do everything possible to play the game in Toronto in the immediate future.
Portmore United of the Jamaican Premier League and 2003 champions were due to arrive from Jamaica Friday night for the one-game visit to Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough.
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