Portmore United look to the Caribbean in transfer window

SEVEN-TIME JAMAICA Premier League champions, Portmore United, are in preparation mood ahead of the October 23 start of the 2022/23 football season.

The Phillip Williams-coached unit is eager to put the disappointment of last season, which saw them finishing ninth, behind them and stamp their class on local soil yet again.

“We are currently in our second week of preparations, and so far, it has been going great. The intensity, the quality in the training is of an acceptable standard, although there’s room for improvement, but everything is going good so far,” said Williams.

The former Tivoli Gardens head coach took charge of Portmore United at the back end of last season, following the sacking of Lenworth Hyde. The seven-time champions won their last title back in the 2018/19 season, with Williams hoping he can give the St Catherine-based outfit its eighth hold sooner rather than later.

“Most definitely so, we are always prepared to win and this year will be no different. We have put together a decent squad, one that we think has the ability of achieving the top position in the land once more,” said Williams.

That decent squad Williams speaks of includes 14 additions with international recruits in the list.

Among those internationals are St Lucia’s Jevick McFarlane, Trinidad and Tobago’s Alvenus Myers, as well as Keny Charleston and Constant Bernardo from Haiti.

Last season, Portmore United only managed 15 goals, joint-second worse with Montego Bay United, from their 22 games. Adjusting that, according to Williams, played a big role in how the club approached transfers.

“Goals win matches and if we look back at last season, we didn’t score much. We have sought to address that by bringing in some players that are capable of scoring goals. One such person will be Tevin Scott from Harbour View. So, we are seeking to address that and hopefully our training and the players we’ve scouted will come through,” said Williams.

Despite the need to get more goals into the back of the net, Williams said his team promises to be solid all round.

“The midfield, I think we lacked some creativity there. We’ve recruited, as I said, wisely in that department by getting players that are creative, and are strong defensively when we don’t have the football,” said Williams.

orane.buchanan@gleanerjm.com

Portmore United additions

Andre Smith (Tivoli Gardens FC), Rushane Thompson (Tivoli Gardens FC), Tevin Scott (Harbour View FC), Rohan Beadle (Waterhouse FC), Okello Howard (Browns Town FC), Ricardo Watson (Cavalier SC), Jevick McFarlane (Uptown Rebels, St Lucia), Alvenus Myers (W-Connection, Trinidad and Tobago), Keny Charleston (AS Dynamo, Haiti), Constant Bernardo (AS Mirebalais, Haiti), Xarier Bruce (unattached), Sean Kenyon (unattached), Joel Jones (Pembrook Hall FC) and Marvin Williams (unattached).