Seba forever! Name change aborted

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau: The ambitious bid by a group of investors to acquire and change the name of top-flight football club Seba United to Montego Bay United Football Club (MBUFC) has been aborted amidst strong protest from supporters of the club, who have labelled the move, 'insensitive and disrespectful'.

In a release to the media, Seba's chairman Bruce Gaynor, who had told The Gleaner recently that plans were afoot to have a group of investors take over, overhaul and rebrand the club ahead of the 2011-2012 National Premier League season, said the deal was now off the table.

"There were talks with the principals of MBUFC for the restructuring, reorganisation and the running of Seba United FC," Gaynor stated. "Please be advised that MBUFC has withdrawn from these talks and the club shall remain in the hands of the present executives and supporters of the Seba United FC."

Prior to the withdrawal, irate fans of the club angrily denounced the take-over plans, arguing that it was disrespectful of those who had toiled over the years to transform the club from a small community-based group to one of nation's most prestigious clubs.

"Seba is not just another club, it is an established institution with a rich history," said former vice-president of the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) Western Confederation, Craig Oates. "It would be both insensitive and disrespectful to change the name ... this club is the first rural team that won the national premier league."

burdensome duty

In expressing an initial willingness to go along with the take-over plans, Gaynor had stated that the burden of running the club was becoming too much for him, hence the decision to invite the involvement of the Orville Powell MBUFC.

"The burden of running the club is talking a serious toll on me," Gaynor stated, prior to the termination of the deal. "We feel we have no other choice but to bring in investors."

However, for former Seba United star striker and current Arnett Gardens coach, Paul 'Tegat' Davis, changing the club's name is tantamount to tampering with the birthright of those who have worked so hard to make the club a household name in Jamaica.

"I don't like this name change thing; it is our legacy you are talking about," said Davis. "It is like tampering with the birthright of those of us who gave so much in making Seba United the first rural champion in national football."

Seba United, whose impact ranges from the St James domestic leagues through to the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship, was founded on June 12, 1972 by the late Dennis Barton, Samuel Wilkinson, Neville Campbell, Wayne Spence and Weston King. The name Seba was taken from Isaiah 43:3 in the Bible.

The club's impressive silverware collection includes the St James Division Two - 1973-74, The St James Colonial Insurance Cup - 1975-76, The St James Appleton KO - 1984-85, the St James Sustagen Cup - 1984-85, the St James President's Cup - 1983-84, the St James Division One - 1975-76, 1976-77, 1977-78 and 1983-84; Western Super League - 2009 and 2011, National Premier League - 1987 and 1997; and runners-up in the 1997 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship.

In addition to the trophies won, Seba have also produced a long list of national players including Alton 'Noah' Sterling, Allan Latty, Davis, Hector Wright, Devon Dunkley and Norman Foster among others.