Duckie takes over at Waterhouse

Nodley Wright, Gleaner Writer

Former national youth coach Donovan Duckie is the new man in charge of National Premier League team Waterhouse.

Duckie, who was in charge of the country's Under-20 team which narrowly missed qualifying for the 2009 Under-20 World Cup, took over the reins at the former champions yesterday.

"I am elated to be given this opportunity," Duckie said in an interview with The Gleaner yesterday.

"Coaching Waterhouse is something that I have wanted to do for a while but did not think I was ready at the time. I am ready now. This job, I know, will be a challenging one, but I am up for the challenge," added the man who assisted David Hunt with Jamaica's Under-17 team in 2007 as they beat the United States for the first time at any age-group level.

"I have coached at the Premier League level since about 2004 when myself and Lewin Purser took Star Cosmos to the Premier League. Following that, it was on to St Georges, Portmore United and finally Sporting Central Academy. Those experiences, along with what I have learnt at the national level, and with the help of God, this assignment will be a success," added Duckie, who was also a national youth goalkeeper.

Duckie's appointment comes just over a week after it was announced that former national assistant coach, Bradley Stewart, would have been the man at the helm. That announcement, according to sources close to the club, was met with threats of mass migration as a number of key players made it clear they would not work with the veteran coach.

Stewart would have been the fourth coach with national credentials to be attached to Waterhouse. Previously, Geoffrey Maxwell, the late Peter Cargill and Paul Young had stints at the club. The late Barrington Gaynor, Baris Johnson and Wayne Fairclough also did time as coach of the club.