yesterday by handing over a cheque for $13,000 to Bermuda Cricket Board of Control for sponsorship throughout the season.

The company have also agreed to back the Champion of Champions matches next month, a competition that was scrapped last year because of lack of sponsorship.

TBI were behind the new Safe Hands Award in Cup Match for best fielder which Janeiro Tucker won, and again they will sponsor the Champion of Champions.

That involves the winners of the three county competitions on the weekend of September 12 and 13.

The money will go mostly towards the cost that the BCBC incurred in supplying all their affiliate clubs with balls for the season.

"On behalf of the BCBC I want to thank TeleBermuda for coming to our aid this year,'' said board president El James. "We provided each of the clubs that come under the umbrella of the BCBC with balls free of cost for play during the season.

"It helped the clubs out tremendously as far as expenses were concerned, probably to the tune of $1,000 for each club. I'm certain that not only the BCBC but also the affiliate clubs appreciate TBI's contribution this season and we look forward to continued sponsorship in the future.'' Added James: "I also want to thank Black Star Communications, headed by Rolf Commissiong, who helped put the whole plan together.'' The Champion of Champions will be officially known as the TBI Champion of Champions and the option will be there to renew that sponsorship next season.

"We look forward to a long relationship with TBI,'' said the president.

"We're going to benefit from it and we want to make certain that TBI get some benefit out of it as well. If everybody is benefitting then naturally we look forward to a long relationship.'' Troy Symonds, a Senior Account Manager at TeleBermuda International, acknowledged the benefit that sports derive from such sponsorship. "Sporting associations definitely need assistance and we hope this will encourage other corporate entities to get involved and assist sporting bodies,'' said Symonds.

Echoed Commissiong: "There is a need for many of our companies to do a little more and put in the extra mile to make sport a success. We're taking baby steps this year and letting it grow from there.'' He thinks the potential is there for the Champion of Champions to develop into the premier competition to end the season.

One BCBC source, at least, feels the competition could be expanded to include the champions from the other domestic competitions as well, like the Premier and First Division champions, as well as Knockout and Camel Cup winners.