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New boys ready for new season
Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Sporting Central's Carnell Learmond falls to the ground in front of referee Wayne Stewart after being challenged by Police National's Orville Smalling, in National Premier League play-off action last season. - file
The honeymoon period is almost officially at an end for lone Clarendon representatives Sporting Central, and as the feelings of triumph die down, they must now prepare to deal with the tough business of staying afloat in top-flight football.
In a league where financial viability is a constant struggle, the business of making enough money to keep the club's prime assets - the players, not only well-equipped but happy, is not always an easy one for a newly-promoted club.
In addition, Sporting Central will find themselves in a situation where ever-tightening financial constraints have forced the clubs this year to form the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) in an effort to secure crucial funding, ahead of the season.
Despite these facts, the forecast, according to club president Brandon Murray, is not all doom and gloom.
"We are depending on the parish business committee to come to our aid, but we're really not sure what is happening just yet," Murray explained.
Positive feedback
"The fact is, however, that the feedback has been positive and the good thing about it is that we are the only team in the premier league in the parish; we have no competition," he added.
Murray, however, noted two major issues which have proved to be a setback for the club so far; the first being the general elections and the other the recent passage of hurricane Dean. "Right now some of the funding I'm sure has gone into campaigning and now with the parish and its environs badly affected by the hurricane, that is another big blow for us," Murray said. "However, I don't think it's going to be something that is going to be difficult to accomplish. the truth is people are really looking forward to top-flight football in the parish. "The players are very upbeat, they have been training hard and we expect to do quite well," he said.
"We were kind of hoping for a smoother transition though."
As far as the issue surrounding infrastructure is concerned, Sporting Central seem to be already well ahead of the game. According to Murray, the team has already paid for stands, which are expected to arrive from Venezuela to the team's home ground - the lush Brancourt - by the the end of the week.
The stands will satisfy the mandatory 1,500 seating capacity requirement set in place by the Jamaica Football Federation, which should see them avoid home-ground issues which have plagued teams like Boys' Town and August Town in recent years.
"We have already accomplished quite a few things and we will be in a position to host Premier League games by the start of the season," Murray advised. He added: "Yes, we are a bit behind on finances but our motivation is high. "I'm not daunted by the financial situation of the league in general. I think that we will be able to garner the necessary support," he added.
Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Sporting Central's Carnell Learmond falls to the ground in front of referee Wayne Stewart after being challenged by Police National's Orville Smalling, in National Premier League play-off action last season. - file
The honeymoon period is almost officially at an end for lone Clarendon representatives Sporting Central, and as the feelings of triumph die down, they must now prepare to deal with the tough business of staying afloat in top-flight football.
In a league where financial viability is a constant struggle, the business of making enough money to keep the club's prime assets - the players, not only well-equipped but happy, is not always an easy one for a newly-promoted club.
In addition, Sporting Central will find themselves in a situation where ever-tightening financial constraints have forced the clubs this year to form the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) in an effort to secure crucial funding, ahead of the season.
Despite these facts, the forecast, according to club president Brandon Murray, is not all doom and gloom.
"We are depending on the parish business committee to come to our aid, but we're really not sure what is happening just yet," Murray explained.
Positive feedback
"The fact is, however, that the feedback has been positive and the good thing about it is that we are the only team in the premier league in the parish; we have no competition," he added.
Murray, however, noted two major issues which have proved to be a setback for the club so far; the first being the general elections and the other the recent passage of hurricane Dean. "Right now some of the funding I'm sure has gone into campaigning and now with the parish and its environs badly affected by the hurricane, that is another big blow for us," Murray said. "However, I don't think it's going to be something that is going to be difficult to accomplish. the truth is people are really looking forward to top-flight football in the parish. "The players are very upbeat, they have been training hard and we expect to do quite well," he said.
"We were kind of hoping for a smoother transition though."
As far as the issue surrounding infrastructure is concerned, Sporting Central seem to be already well ahead of the game. According to Murray, the team has already paid for stands, which are expected to arrive from Venezuela to the team's home ground - the lush Brancourt - by the the end of the week.
The stands will satisfy the mandatory 1,500 seating capacity requirement set in place by the Jamaica Football Federation, which should see them avoid home-ground issues which have plagued teams like Boys' Town and August Town in recent years.
"We have already accomplished quite a few things and we will be in a position to host Premier League games by the start of the season," Murray advised. He added: "Yes, we are a bit behind on finances but our motivation is high. "I'm not daunted by the financial situation of the league in general. I think that we will be able to garner the necessary support," he added.
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