The Grenada Football Association (GFA) has welcome the launch of the "Journey to Germany" promotion aimed at raising $100, 000.00 E.C to help the island in its bid to secure a place in the next football world cup. The Grenada Breweries Ltd (GBL) unveiled the initiative last week Wednesday at a ceremony held in St. George's.

The promotion runs from April 1 until June 30 and will see each member of the team receiving a minimum of EC$4000.00 to help them with their training.

In speaking at the launch, General Secretary of GFA, Victor Daniel praised the efforts of GBL to donate some of the monies received from the sale of its Carlsberg beer to the footballers.
Daniel said that the local FA fully recognises the importance of having funds for the "Spice Boyz" campaign in World Cup 2006 to be held in Germany.

"We in the association at no time will be able to finance the team as well as we would like to. Our budget at present for the national senior team is in excess of $400,000.00 and at no time will the GFA be able to give to the players the necessary financial support that is needed as amateurs to compete in the professional world", he said.

"...We recognise the economic impact that football could have on this country and (what) it has already made during the last couple of months. We believe that people and sponsors like the GBL must come on board to assist us as we travel on the road to Germany", he added.

Daniel used the opportunity to call on other corporate businesses in the country to follow the lead of the local brewing company.
He urged them to consider the amount of publicity they can get through the endorsement of their product with football.

"The time is now ...for the other corporate bodies to come on board and we ask you to do so now and do not wait until after we defeat the United States in Ohio and later at our national stadium on June 19", he remarked. This is reference to Grenada's next two outing as part of the campaign to reach Germany.

The Spice Boyz defeated Guyana 5-1 at the Queen's Park National stadium on February 28 and one week later travelled to Georgetown to come away with a 3-1 victory in the away game.
Daniel.also called on the beer drinker on the island to recognise the contribution they will be making to the team when they support the efforts through the purchase of Carlsberg.

Sports Minister Roland Bhola who also spoke at the function, commended GBL for the initiative and said that his ministry is extremely happy and thankful to them at this point in time.

Minister Bhola said that while the Ministry is willing to give as much financial and other forms of support to the team the fact remains that there are limitations on its already scarce resources.
He commended the brewing company for leading by example and not adopting what he termed the wait and see policy like many Grenadians.

Bhola said that the tendency in the country is for "we (to) wait for somebody to take it first or reach glory and then we come (out) after and support".

The senior government minister pointed out that he would like to see other bodies come forward and support the team since the players have the ability and if given the financial and other support the "Spice Boyz" will perform and make Grenadians really proud.
Bhola called on every Grenadian whether or not they do drink beers to support the GBL initiative since in the end they will be supporting "our football ambassadors who will be flying Grenada's flag high".