fp Turks and Caicos

The excitement was overflowing from the six finalists of Digicel’s “Make the Team” promotion shortly before the winner was announced at the flagship store Tuesday, June 1.

“I am going to cry if I win,” Charlene Astwood told television anchor Deandrea Hamilton, who hosted the live television presentation show.

Each of the six finalists, who qualified through various Digicel promotions over the past eight weeks, were invited to the Digicel store in the Graceway Plaza to participate in the grand final drawing to decide the winner. In the order they arrived for the event, the contestants chose one from six closed Digicel envelopes to determine who would be the big winner.

Astwood kept to her promise to Hamilton and cried, along with screaming and dancing, when she opened her envelope and found a round-trip ticket to South Africa. The prize — which includes all flights and transfers from Providenciales to South Africa, accommodation in a luxury hotel on a game reserve, spending money, a safari tour, polo shirts and tickets to the  final — comes to a total value of $30,000.

Astwood beat out five other finalists — Angela Williams of Providenciales, Darcel Williams of Grand Turk, Steve Dallas of Providenciales, Simeon Donald of Providenciales and Thomas Watkins of Providenciales for the prize. However, no one walked away empty handed. “Thanks to our generous corporate partners, the runner-ups will each receive another fabulous prize,” Ava-Dayne Kerr told the anxious group.

Digicel, the official regional broadcast sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2010, is sending Astwood and 37 other Digicel winners from across the Caribbean to the momentous event in July.

Astwood promised to represent the TCI with pride when she attends the games, wearing the TCI colours and carrying the country’s flag.

“I’ve been a Digicel customer for a week now after purchasing a BlackBerry, but I never dreamed I’d be heading to see the greatest teams in the world play each other in the world’s most prestigious tournament.

“I’d like to thank Digicel for giving me this once-in-a-lifetime trip and fantastic opportunity. I’m really excited about being in beautiful South Africa watching the beautiful game!” she said.

Digicel TCI CEO E. Jay Saunders was proud to present the award to a local customer, saying this promotion represents how important football in the region is to Digicel.

“Digicel’s commitment to the development of football began in 2004 and since then has evolved throughout the Caribbean with numerous sponsorships from grass roots right through to national level,” Saunders said.

“Today we’re delighted to be giving our valued customers this once-in-a-lifetime trip to witness the world’s best teams play against each other in the biggest footballing event in the world in South Africa next month,” he said.

FIFA Vice-President and CONCACAF President Jack Warner said of the prize, “I am delighted that Digicel is giving football fans across the region the chance to witness football’s showpiece which takes place only once every four years and will be a fantastic opportunity to witness the crème de la crème of footballing talent,” he said.

“In just a few short years, Digicel has become the biggest supporter of football in the Caribbean and Central America. As well as sponsoring football federations and leagues across the region, Digicel has been instrumental in developing football clinics with renowned international coaches for aspiring young footballers.”

Digicel-sponsored TCIFA representatives were also present to mark the momentous occasion.

“We are so grateful to Digicel for their continued commitment to football in the Turks and Caicos,” said TCIFA representative Sonia Bien-Amie. She added although there are many great sponsors who help keep football alive in the TCI, without the enormous support of Digicel to the TCIFA, the league would not be possible.