Digicel Caribbean Cup Trophy Unveiled for International Football Finals, Qualifiers Head to USA for CONCACAF Gold Cup

CHRISTCHURCH, Barbados, Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The inaugural Digicel Caribbean Cup finals officially kicked off today with the unveiling of the championship trophy at a press conference in Barbados in advance of the championship round taking place February 20-24, 2005.

Teams from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba and host Barbados will compete for the coveted title of Digicel Caribbean Cup Champion during final rounds. The Digicel Caribbean Cup finals will also qualify three teams to the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup(TM) (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) scheduled July 6-24 in the USA.

As the proud title sponsor of the Caribbean Football Union Cup, Digicel unveiled the sterling silver trophy with black granite base that incorporates flags from each of the CONCACAF nations. The artwork on the trophy displays footballers in the heat of play as the cup reaches to the skies above them, representing the aspirations and ambitions of the players. The cup's modern design and engraved flags from many nations, embodies Digicel's commitment to make the tournament a premier international event, viewed and enjoyed by football fans from around the world.

In addition to qualification to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the winning team will be awarded US$100,000 with US$50,000 and US$30,000 going to second and third place winners respectively. The fourth place team will receive US$20,000.

Digicel also announced a number of exciting initiatives scheduled to take place during the final round in Barbados, including a family fun day at Queen's Park, Bridgetown on Saturday, February 19, 2005, from 11am to 5pm. Football fans will also enjoy activities and performances at the matches including pre-game shows, competitions, and giveaways.

"After an exciting tournament, four final teams will 'show their true colors' to decide the holder of this majestic Digicel Caribbean Cup trophy," said Raoul Fontanez, CEO of Digicel Group. "The modern and inspirational design of the trophy represents our vision for the Caribbean Cup tournament as a premier international event. We take great pride in being title sponsor and are committed to the growth of this event. Football fans across the region have been very receptive to our sponsorship and the level of performance is promising. We look forward to the final round and wish each of the teams every success in their quest to become Digicel Caribbean Cup Champions."

Digicel is also dedicated to providing the necessary resources to help grow West Indies cricket to its true potential so players and fans can enjoy its benefits. The company supports Special Olympics teams across the region.

About CONCACAF

CONCACAF "The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football" is one of six continental confederations of FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association). It is composed of 40 national associations, from Canada in the north to Suriname in the south. The 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup(TM) will consist of Canada, Mexico, USA, three Caribbean nations to qualify from the CFU (Caribbean Football Union) Digicel Cup, four Central American teams from the UNCAF Nations Cup and two guest teams: South Africa and another to be announced.

About Digicel

Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the fastest growing mobile telecommunications operator in the Caribbean. In three years, Digicel has become renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, and a wide variety of products and services, and state-of-the-art handsets.

By offering innovative mobile services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting edge of mobile communications.

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and operates in seven countries including Aruba, Barbados, The Cayman Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is the largest GSM mobile operator in the region and plans to extend its footprint into other Caribbean countries.

The company is the lead sponsor of Caribbean sports teams including the West Indies Cricket Team, Special Olympics teams across the Caribbean and is title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Football Union Cup, which involves over 30 Caribbean countries and is an important qualifier towards the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Visit http://www.digicelgroup.com/ for more information on Digicel. Editor Notes Match Dates * Saturday 19th February -- Family Fun Day, Queen's Park, Bridgetown, 11am - 5pm * Sunday 20th February -- Jamaica V Trinidad 6pm -- Barbados V Cuba 8pm * Tuesday 22nd February -- Trinidad V Cuba 6pm -- Barbados V Jamaica 8pm * Thursday 24th February -- Cuba V Jamaica 6pm -- Barbados V Trinidad 8pm All matches take place at the National Stadium, Barbados.