Burrell supports MoBay United FC

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) boss, Captain Horace Burrell, has described the contentious decision to rebrand Seba United as Montego Bay United Football Club (MBUFC) a "masterstroke", arguing that it will significantly improve the club's profile and make it more marketable.

"The name change is incredible, it is a master stroke ... Montego Bay is an internationally recognised brand so the club is bound to benefit from that," said Burrell, while addressing Tuesday's official launch of MBUFC at the Palmyra Resort and Spa in Montego Bay. "I believe this will do wonders for the club."

Speaking against the background of the fact that Montego Bay is a world-class tourism destination, the JFF boss said the potential for marketing the club worldwide is awesome, as football could be the catalyst for sports tourism in the western city.

Major force

"With a name like MBUFC, the club now has tremendous potential for global marketing and merchandising," said Burrell. "With the support of the business community and other stakeholders, the club could become a major force in national football."

While admitting that, like many long-time supporters of the club, he was sceptical about the name change initially, Burrell said that after the concept was explained to him by club president, businessman Orville Powell, his views have changed and hence his decision to endorse the idea.

"Gone are the days when one or two individuals could run a club, times have changed, that would not work now," stated Burrell. "To be successful in football today, it requires innovation, creativity, a sustainable product and the support of the business community."

At the launch, Powell said the advent of MBUFC represents the direction in which local football should be going. According to him, between 1972 - when Seba United was found - and today, football has evolved from just an avenue for recreation into a business with awesome economic potential.

"Ultimately, we want MBUFC to do for Montego Bay what Manchester United and Barcelona FC have done for England and Spain, respectively," said Powell. "We have spent a lot of time studying the model of the successful clubs around the world and it is their blueprint we intend to use at MBUFC."

Some dissenters

While acknowledging that letting go of the name Seba United will not be easy for some of its long-standing supporters, Burrell made an impassioned plea to those who are still disgruntled to give the new idea a chance.

"I would like to urge all the long-standing fans of Seba United to step along with the change because it is for the greater good of the club," Burrell said. "Based on the plans outlined to me, I have no doubt that this club will be a success."

Newspaper publisher Lloyd B. Smith, the interim chairman of the board of MBUFC, endorsed Burrell's views. He said the disgruntled fans should recognise that "sentiments and emotions" alone cannot run a club.

While the full list of directors for MBUFC has not yet been unveiled, noted individuals, such as Montego Bay's mayor, Councillor Charles Sinclair, land developer Mark Kerr-Jarrett, and vice-president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, Stephen Dear, have all given the new entity their blessing.