Expect a bang, not a whimper - Seba's management eyeing top two NPL finish

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:When two-time national champions Seba United return to the 2011-12 National Premier League, having spent the last three seasons in the proverbial wilderness, the club is planning to do so with a bang, not a whimper, said club president Bruce Gaynor.

"We are not just coming back to participate, we are coming back to win and become champions again," said Gaynor, who is also a vice-president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). "We have spent the last three years restructuring and rebuilding, so it now time to reap the rewards of our efforts."

"We believe when we are through fine-tuning our programme, we will be a potent unit," continued Gaynor. "While winning is our ultimate aim, we are not prepared to settle for nothing less than a top two-finish."

confederation play-offs

While the club is grateful to the players who took them to the Captain's Bakery Western Super League title and then to further success in the JFF four-team confederation play-offs, Gaynor said the club will be seeking to add more firepower going into the big league.

"We had a number of players on loan to other clubs and those players will be coming back to us," said Gaynor. "We will also be seeking to recruit some players," he added. "We want to put out a team that is capable of becoming champions in the shortest time possible."

Cognisant of the fact that the club will need help, Gaynor is extending an open invitation to the Montego Bay community, to include the Chamber of Commerce and the St James Parish Council, to assist the club in its bid to become viable and sustainable.

"The general public was not happy in the period that St James did not have a team in the premier league," said Gaynor. "Now we have a team, we are inviting them to become our partners ... our doors are wide open to whoever wants to come in and help be it by way of sponsorship or otherwise."

While negotiations are still ongoing, Gaynor said plans are afoot to recruit one of Jamaica's top coaches as technical director. In addition, former club chairman Orville Powell, who is also a former president of the St James FA, is back on board as managing director.

"A lot of things are happening behind the scenes and will be made public before long," stated Gaynor. "As soon as we have settled all negotiations, we will be having a major press conference soon to unveil our plans going into the premier league."

With the club's training facility at the Lion's Den in the Tucker area freshly refurbished to include a swimming pool and other modern training facilities, Gaynor said the club is now ready to move into its preparation phase.

"Training will start officially next Monday and we are open to all players who think they can contribute something to Seba's aspirations," said Gaynor. "We are ready to be Jamaica's best once again."