Harbour View FC Endures Loss of Key Players to Overseas Transfers
Harbour View Football Club, a five-time national champion in Jamaica, will face the upcoming Jamaica Premier League season without the services of their star players, Colorado Murray and Timar Lewis. Both players have embarked on overseas transfers, leaving a void in the team. Murray will now be playing for CD Fuerte San Francisco in El Salvador, while Lewis will feature for FK Sloboda MrKonjic Grad in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second division.
The departure of Murray and Lewis comes as a blow to the club, as they have made a significant impact on the local football scene. Murray, in particular, played a pivotal role in helping Harbour View FC secure their fifth title in the 2022 Jamaica Premier League. He scored the opening goal against Dunbeholden, setting the tone for their successful campaign. Lewis has been a consistent performer for the club over the last three years, even scoring the first hat trick of the previous season. Their contributions will be sorely missed.
Clyde Jureidini, the general manager of Harbour View FC, expressed his admiration for the departing players and acknowledged their accomplishments. He stated, Both players made their mark here and did well to assist us in primarily winning the 2022 Jamaica Premier League, our fifth title. In fact, it was Colorado (Murray) who scored the opening goal against Dunbeholden. Timar (Lewis) has been consistent over the last three years since he joined us and scored the first hat trick of last season. We’re happy for both of them and wish them the best of luck.
However, Jureidini also acknowledged the challenging circumstances surrounding the transfers, especially considering the ongoing 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Club Championship and the upcoming local Premier League season. He lamented the unfortunate timing of the departures as Harbour View FC aims to rebuild their team. In addition to Murray and Lewis, the club has also lost Cristojaye Daley to a transfer to Macedonia, and Nicholas Hamilton recently returned to his former club Cavalier.
Losing four major attackers has presented a major challenge for the club, but Jureidini remains hopeful about the future. He recognized the trend of talented Jamaican players being scouted by European clubs at a younger age, lured by the potential they possess. Despite the setbacks, Harbour View FC remains committed to their internal development approach, nurturing talent from a young age within the club itself. Jureidini asserted, From 1966 when the youngsters in Harbour View started developing themselves, we’ve always looked internally. So now we have from under-seven to under-17, we’ve looked internally for our development and we build by lifting ourselves from the bootstraps.
While the loss of key players poses a significant challenge, Harbour View FC is determined to weather this storm. They anticipate the arrival of new players within the coming weeks, hoping that these upcoming talents will make their mark and contribute to the success of the club. Jureidini remains optimistic about the future and the resilience of Harbour View FC.
The departure of Murray and Lewis underscores the increasing interest from European leagues in Jamaican players, signifying a changing landscape for football talent development in the country. As European clubs recognize the potential in Jamaican footballers, it is crucial for Jamaican clubs to adapt and find ways to nurture and retain their top talents.
Harbour View FC is now faced with the task of rebuilding their team and maintaining their competitive edge in the upcoming season. With new players on the horizon, the club is eager to demonstrate their resilience and continue to compete at the highest level. Time will tell if Harbour View FC can overcome these departures and reclaim their position as a dominant force in Jamaican football.
