The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe officially welcomed the Central Michigan Chippewas and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the organisers of the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl to the Bahamas, encouraging them to take advantage of all that the country has to offer.

Wilchcombe, accompanied by Joy Jibrilu, director general in the Ministry of Tourism, Rev Harrison Thompson, the permanent secretary, and Greg Rolle, senior manager of Sports/Aviation in Plantation, Florida, said today’s collegiate football game is just as important to the visitors as it is to the Bahamian people.

They were joined by members of the organising committee, including Britton Banowsky, the president of the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, Hector Munoz, chief marketing officer of USA Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, the major sponsors of the game that will be carried live on ESPN, starting at noon at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

“It means a lot to the Bahamas because already we have secured over $1.6 million in advertisements,” Wilchcombe said. “The notoriety and the publicity for the Bahamas and the game is something that we will definitely benefit from in the long run in the future.”

Additionally, Wilchcome said the game will have a tremendous effect on the young men who would like to pursue the sport, either at the introductory level or for those who are contemplating college or even getting into the professional ranks.

As a former football player himself, Wilchcombe stressed that he loves football “because it’s one of the games where you learn the importance of team work and playing with individuals who have to protect you and watch you and also ensure that you don’t get hit.

“This game teaches you some valuable lessons and so the more young people we can get to play, the more they can put their hands to better use and their minds to better use and develop as young men and to develop as better human beings in our society.”

Wilchcombe said the game will bring so much opportunities and so he’s excited over the fact that the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl will become a staple on the calendar of international events hosted in the Bahamas like the Battle 4 Atlantis basketball tournament, the IAAF World Relays in athletics and the Pure Silk Golf Tournament for ladies.

“I believe that as we go on, we will see it grow tremendously and eventually become one of the staple events on our calendar,” he said.

Munoz said the Bahamas and Popeyes Louisiana have a lot in common, including the love for life, love for food and a fun celebratory atmosphere. That, he indicated, was one of the major reasons why they decided to come on board and sponsor the game.

“We are currently in discussions with potential operators to hopefully build some restaurants here. We believe that we can do very well here,” he said. “And we are in the stage in our organisation where we want to have a high profile sporting event and what better event than the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl in the Bahamas and the fact that it is the inaugural one. So we are really excited about this opportunity.”

To show their appreciation, Popeyes will be distributing samples of their new products to the first 4,000 fans who show up to watch the game today. The product, which Munoz declined not to name, will be added to their menu in the United States on Friday, December 26.

“We are launching it. We will convey to the consumers during the game on national US TV that it’s something that we will be giving them on Friday,” he said. “It’s very unique, it’s very good and I think it’s going to be something that everybody will enjoy.”

As a result of the tremendous support they have gotten from everybody, including the local residents and visitors alike, Munoz said they are eager for the first Popeyes Bahamas Bowl to come off so they can start planning for the second game in 2015 and the others to follow.

From his initial visit here 18 months ago to start planning for the game, Banowsky said Conference USA has been extremely pleased with the way everything has come together in what they are now calling the ultimate bowl game as they have enjoyed the week so far.

“We’re ready to go. The teams are locked and loaded,” Banowsky said.

The Caribbean Bottling Company Limited, through its product Coca-Cola and Bacardi, has also made a tremendous contribution to the organising committee through their sponsorship.