Harbour View to use victorious U20s in senior squad

Harbour View chairman Carvel Stewart said the bulk of the U20 team that defeated Arnett Gardens 2-0 for the KSAFA Next Gen U20 title, on June 21, will form the base of the team that will be pushing for an immediate return to the Jamaica Premier League (JPL).

Harbour View were relegated from the top flight for the first time in over 30 years, after they finished second from bottom in last season's JPL. 

Despite the gloom that has settled over the club because of their demotion, the U20s, led by talismanic striker Tyrique Robinson, was a silver lining for Stewart, who believes the talented group of young players have the raw material to take them back to top-tier football.

"They do need to grow some more but I think we have the base of the group of players who will take us back to the Premier League. This team has enough talent, enough skills, and it's just to keep them grounded and we think they will do well," he told The Gleaner after last Sunday's victory at the UWI Mona Bowl.

He pointed out that the club continues to do well in the various age group tournaments across the island, and that their strong focus on youth development will ultimately prove to be their saving grace in the quest to return to top-fight football.

"We are graduating through our youth programmes and that is what we have always done. Unfortunately, we didn't get enough of them in time for the senior group (JPL), but they are going to form the base of the qualification going forward."

Robinson heads the list of quality players in the squad, but Stewart noted that there are other very talented players primed for bigger things.

"He (Robinson) is an outstanding prospect and hopefully he will grow, so we can get him into something more lucrative than what we have here in Jamaica, so he can earn a good living from his talent. 

"We are looking to him and others, but he is ahead of the game right now. However, if you look at the quality, the defensive core was very solid. We have players Habbie (Mohammed) and Ajay (Needham), who we think will also grow. They are all good prospects," he stated.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com