Duckie: Humble Lion need revamp
Published:Wednesday | January 8, 2025 | 12:10 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
COACH OF Humble Lion Donovan Duckie says the Clarendon club needs drastic changes in order to once again become a competitive force in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL).
From 2011 to 2017, Humble Lion were one of the standard-bearers in the league, both in terms of player quality and financial power.
However, since topping the preliminary stage of the league in the 2016-17 season and losing out at the semifinals, the Effortville club has been a shadow of itself, facing relegation each season since then.
Humble Lion are currently at the foot of the JPL standing with 10 points and just one win from 16 matches, looking likely to end their 16-year stay in the top-flight.
Duckie admitted the club has been in stagnation for the last few years and has not taken the path that most prominent local clubs have, and that there are two main things they need to address just to get Humble Lion to a stage where it can be competitive.
“Everyone knows Humble Lion is not a newcomer to the league. It is a club with good reputation. But we have to be honest with the fans and also people who work in the industry and know of the team.
“We have to be honest with everyone and be honest with ourselves, and I think Humble Lion is the only club in the Premier League that has not made the transition in the direction that the football has evolved,” he said.
“The game has evolved to a fast transition game with counterattacks and counter pressing. So the age of the team is one factor we have to look at. We have to lower that.
“We also need to bring in players with good running ability, players that can suit the characteristic of how the football is being played now. So basically that is the direction that the club is looking to go in now.”
He revealed that the club wants to change at least half the squad in the January transfer window, but that there is a worry that the quality or characteristics of players they are aiming for, may not be readily available.
“We want to maintain a certain amount of senior players to help guide the youths matriculate into seniors. So it is important to have players with age but what percentage of the team?
“The objective is to lower the average age of the team first, improve our quality and get players with good running ability.
“We are looking at about 10 to 12 new players and that tells you exactly what I am trying to say. If in the window we are looking to change 50 per cent of a team.
“But we are definitely looking to get in some fresh blood. Some from the daCosta Cup. Some from Premier League clubs and others from Tier Two,” he continued.
Transition phase
The club is in talks with players they hope to add to their books in January, even then Duckie believes a lot more work will be required to fight off relegation this season.
“The team is in a transition phase, where we are looking in the transfer market for quality players. We are looking at some players and are close to signing them but we haven’t complete any of the deals.
“We have evaluated our position all around from top to bottom and Humble Lion is now making some changes
“It is not the same Humble Lion as in previous years. So we are trying to make the transition and the club is in a rebuilding stage.
“But we still want to be competitive in the league. We might be at the foot of the table but two or three wins can put you back in contention for a top-six position.
“So the league has not gone. There are 20-odd games left to play. It is not time to press any panic button. It is time to be more serious and more focused and try to look forward to our first victory in the new year.”
He noted also that all involved with the club are fully aware that they do not have a coaching problem, but that the underlying factors will continue to hinder results if they are not dealt with properly.
“People will also ask, the club is doing so poorly why not fire the coach. But the club know they definitely don’t have a coaching problem. But that if they keep doing things the same way they are only going to get the same result. So, everyone at the top level of the club knows we have to change the pathway now which, in turn, will change the results.
“I have inherited all these players and this is a reality that we are looking at, and now we just have to make changes in terms of good running power players, lowering the age of players and get the requisite quality. And the only way youngsters are going to get the experience is if you give them the experience.
“So I wouldn’t say the plan is a hundred per cent foolproof but it is something that we are trying to do. But I stayed on board because I know this is possible as I have done it on more than one occasion.”