Harbour View fuming at DPL Trophy absence

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Newly-crowned Digicel Premier League champions, Harbour View, were held to a nil-all draw by Waterhouse in their last home game of the season on Sunday.

Harbour View used the occasion to celebrate with their fans who came out in their numbers to see their team, which had wrapped up the title with a 2-1 victory at St Georges Sports Club last Wednesday.

The Harbour View players and coach Donovan Hayles took a lap around the ground after the game in a show of appreciation to their supporters, while the St Benedict's marching band drummed up a storm in the background. Flares were also sent rippling through the night's sky by some of the jubilant followers as Ezib Crew unleashed the latest dancehall tracks.

Harbour View also took time out to celebrate the achievements of the Under-15, Under-17, Under-20 and Under-21 teams.

disappointment

Amidst all the festivities, however, a cloud of disappointment prevailed as the championship trophy was not on hand to be presented to the 2009-2010 league winners.

"I am very, very disappointed tonight and heart broken because our spectators came out to celebrate with us and for some strange reason, and I call it disrespect to the Harbour View spectators, the club and the players, the trophy wasn't here tonight to be presented to us," said Hayles.

"Any time after this is meaningless to us as a club and I think that whoever is responsible must be ashamed about what they did tonight. I think it was a hard-done deal to us.

"Like any other club we needed to have that celebration, we needed to have that joy and feel to lift our cup in front of our spectators and they robbed us of that," he added.

The club's general manager, Clyde Jureidini, echoed similar sentiments.

"We are disappointed that we did not have it presented here at the stadium where it should be presented, in front of the home crowd, in front of a squad, a club and a community who sacrificed so much," said Jureidini.

Team captain Richard Edwards could not hide his disappointment.

"We are very disgruntled about not having it to celebrate in front of our fans because this is our last home game," said Edwards.

They will play their final match of the season against the team they have dethroned, Tivoli Gardens, at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex, on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Waterhouse's coach, Geoffrey Maxwell, was extremely disappointed with his team's performance.

"Overall, nil-all and you are officially in third position now. Some people might accept it as a good performance, ... (but) I think it was a very terrible and horrible performance by the team," said Maxwell.

Maxwell also said he would still be at the club next season.

"I will be at Waterhouse next year, I don't know about the players who might not be there but I will be there," he affirmed.