Harbour View off to play match in Antigua

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Digicel Premier League champions Harbour View Football Club departed the island yesterday for an international friendly game in Antigua against Barracuda Football Club tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.

Barracuda is an Antiguan professional soccer team based in the eastern Caribbean team's capital, St John's. It was founded in 2010 and will join the United Soccer League First Division in 2011. The team plays its home games at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and is currently coached by Billy McEwan.

Barracuda, which had its official ceremony on Monday night, has already played practice games against Montreal Impact and Puerto Rico Islanders, as they measure themselves and try to gain exposure and experience against clubs in the region.

Game welcomed

Harbour View's general manager, Clyde Jureidini, who will head the Harbour View delegation, welcomes the international game.

"It is an international game and you can't replace international games, so that is the direct benefit to the club. It is at the end of the season, so we would have played last week and we are still clearly fit, we have been doing light training in the last two days," said Jureidini.

"We will have a training session there on Saturday night before going into the game," he added.

Jureidini pointed out that the players are looking forward to the game.

"We are in good nick, we are in championship fitness condition so the players wouldn't have lost their focus, intensity or playing condition over the last week," said Jureidini.

"They are looking forward to it as a challenge, as a reward for a good season and to close out the season by moving from local to international within the region," he added.

Delegation: Andrew 'Bowa' Hines (head coach - Donovan 'DV' Hayles is overseas on family commitments), Carnel Austin (equipment manager), Jermaine Malcolm (assistant equipment manager), and players - Michaud Barrett, Nicholas Beckett, Macelino Blackburn, John-Ross Edwards, Kavin Bryan, Fabian Campbell, Richard Edwards (captain), Andre Steele, Andre Fagan, Jermaine Hue, Jaron Richards, Montrose Phinn, Kimarlee Brissett, Jahmali Spence, Rafeik Thomas, Dicoy Williams and Davian Woodhouse.