Treasure Beach focus on staying in JPL

Treasure Beach FC have achieved their dream of reaching the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) after 30 years of existence and, in the process, ended St Elizabeth's 43-year absence from top-flight football.

Chairman, Jason Henzell, is elated with their achievement, however; he insists they will not get carried away, as their main objective is to stay in the JPL.

"In 1980, Tafari Lion were in the Premier League. We feel tremendous pride that after 43 years, we will represent the parish with a team worthy of being at the Premier League level.

"I want to thank our partners for helping us reach this far, but it's time to double down on our investment. Now is not the time to be giddy-headed and boastful. We want to be humble and steady-headed and approach it with a strategic purpose.

"It is a massive achievement, and we do not want to go there and not stay there. We want to put a structure in place that will confirm the sustainability of us remaining in the league five to 10 years from now," Henzell said.

He pointed out that one of their main objectives is to upgrade the Breds Sports Complex, where they play home matches, to meet all the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) requirements.

Treasure Beach recently received a US$100,000 donation from Yohan Blake and manager Cubie Seegobin. They will add two more acres to the 15 they already owned and there are plans to include additional seating and lights.

Ensuring that they are adequately funded is another intention.

"One of my objectives is to point out to stakeholders how important it is to keep this team funded and for the players and coach to have the support they need to stay there (in league).

"Our goal in the first season is to finish in the top half of the league, and that would be an amazing achievement. If we can finish in the top 10 that would be amazing, and I will see that as a major success.

"We do not intend to be in the bottom two, to come back down. That would be squandering our opportunity. It will be an opportunity and a challenge, but one usually comes with the other, and it is not something I am going to shy away from," he told STAR Sports.

He added that Treasure Beach's policy is the merging of the best talent of the community with the best in the parish, and in coach Omar 'Rambo' Wedderburn, daCosta Cup schoolboy football coach of St Elizabeth Technical High School(STETHS), he believes they have someone capable to putting that talent together and a team that will be competitive.

"It was a big decision whether to play the Treasure Beach community players or to be more competitive and go outside of the area and look parish-wise and mix our talent in Treasure Beach with the talent of the wider parish and; once we were able to secure 'Rambo' I knew we had a good chance," Henzell said.

"We have the best in our community, the most talented in the parish, and because of 'Rambo' we now have access to STETHS players. I always had faith he could coach at the Premier League level, so I will allow 'Rambo' to tell me what support he needs.

"He has got us to where we are now and is the captain of the ship. I am merely putting the gas in the tank. He will be steering the ship, and I will be supporting him," he continued.

Treasure Beach face Lime Hall of St Ann in the final of the National Tier II competition this Sunday, and with both teams guaranteed a place in next season's JPL, Henzell seeks to put the icing on the cake by copping the season with a win.

"It would certainly be the best way to end the season," he added.