KFC deepens support for ISSA Schoolboy Football with $20 million sponsorship

Footballers Raire Ximines and Omarian O’Brian share a light exchange with KFC Marketing Manager Andrei Roper.

Restaurants of Jamaica (ROJ), through its flagship brand KFC, is increasing its investment in the Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA) Schoolboy Football platform to JMD $20 million for the 2025 season.

The package, comprising $17 million in cash and $3 million in meals, builds on the million committed in 2024 and reflects the brand’s continued role in developing young football talent across the island.

Andrei Roper, Marketing Manager at KFC Jamaica, said the company is proud to strengthen its partnership with ISSA.  “Each season, we see the drive and determination these young players bring to the pitch. Our aim is to help create an environment that nurtures their growth, recognizes their achievements, and inspires them to reach for the next level in football and life.”

For the 2025 season, KFC’s sponsorship will also include performance-based incentives that reward players and strengthen school’s football programmes. Every hat-trick scored by a player in the Manning, Dacosta Cup or Champions Cup will earn $50,000 for the school’s football programme of that player, along with $10,000 in KFC meal value for the player. In addition, the MVPs of the Manning Cup, DaCosta Cup, and Champions Cup will each secure $50,000 for their schools and $25,000 in meal value for themselves.

Fans will also be part of the action through KFC’s weekly “Match Score Prediction” challenge on KFC’s social media pages, with prizes including Free KFC for a week for lucky fans who correctly predict the score of the spotlight KFC schoolboy football match of the week.

For over a century, ISSA Schoolboy Football has been a cornerstone of Jamaica’s sporting and cultural calendar. The competition has served as a platform where young men develop discipline, resilience, and teamwork, while gaining opportunities that extend well beyond the pitch.

“Schoolboy Football has been pivotal in shaping the personal, social, and professional development of many student athletes. Beyond the competition itself, it opens doors to scholarships, international exposure, and even professional careers in football,” shared Keith Wellington, President of ISSA.

The pathway from school competitions to international arenas is well established – Dujuan “Whisper” Richards, the 2022 Manning Cup MVP, signed for Chelsea FC soon after his standout season, while Kaheim Dixon, 2023 DaCosta Cup MVP, earned a contract with Charlton Athletic FC. Their journeys are reminders of how ISSA Schoolboy Football continues to showcase Jamaican talent on the global stage.

The tournament also brings people together, strengthening school pride and community spirit across the island. “There is a strong bond between Jamaicans and their high schools,” Wellington said. “It is this connection, and the rivalries it fuels, that makes Schoolboy Football so special.”

“KFC’s support allows us to deliver a stronger competition each year. Despite the challenges faced by many corporate sponsors, KFC has expanded its sponsorship, and that will make a real difference in the lives of the thousands of young men who take part this season,” said Wellington.

The 2025 ISSA Schoolboy Football season promises to bring new energy while continuing cherished traditions, from the fierce rivalries to the stories of resilience that define the competition. Together, ISSA and KFC are ensuring that Schoolboy Football remains the heartbeat of Jamaica’s sporting culture.