NPL teams ready to rumble

ARNETT GARDENS

HOME: ANTHONY SPAULDING SPORTS COMPLEX

Position last season: 8th

Players in: Tyrone Davis, Kemal Malcolm, Mark Williams, Andrew Peddlar, Nackwayne Parchment, Dennis McKinley, Jack Allen, Shawn Lawes and Odane Simpson.

Players out: Omar Campbell, Ricardo Dennis, Nicholas Martin, Kemar Lawrence and Jerry Walters.

Coach: Paul 'Tegat' Davis

Coach's view: Like most of the other teams, our aim is to be in the top and win the Premier League. We have actually the same team from last year with some youngsters from the Under-21 team, and I think that they are bright prospects. I am confident, but the players have to see eye to eye with me and lead us to where we want to go this season.

CAVALIER

HOME: STADIUM EAST

Position last season: Promoted

Coach: David Laylor

Players in: Kevin Lamey, Garice McPherson, Girvon Brown, Michly Waul, Ajuan Brown, Andre Forbes and Raymond Thompson.

Player out: Kendon Anderson.

Coach's view (Kenrick Barnaby, general manager): We are glad to be in the National Premier League competition, as we are celebrating our 50th anniversary. We are not all about surviving in the league, but we are here to perform at the highest level. There are 12 teams in the competition but one trophy, and Cavalier are aiming for number one.

MONTEGO BAY UNITED

HOME: MONTEGO BAY SPORTS COMPLEX

Position last season: 7th

Players in: Richard Reynolds (loan), Ladale Richie, Shavar Campbell, Cordell Simpson, Orlando McBayne, Graeme Green, Brian Brown, Andre Atkinson, Michael Parcels, Omar Reid, Troy Smith and Davin Watkins.

Players out: Andrea Thomas, Troy Reid, Shane Anderson and Davian Thorpe.

Coach: Nedier Dos Santos

Coach's view (Orville Powell, president of Montego Bay United): We are going for the prize this year because I think that we have the players to do it. However, as you know in football you have to play it on the day, but I think we have a very rounded team that can get the job done for us this year.

SPORTING CENTRAL

HOME: BRANCOURT

Position last season: 9th

Players in: Dwayne Ford, Cory Hylton, Rushane Bryant, Odane Davidson, Justin Johnson, Cornell Robinson, Jaimar Scott and Shawn Lovelace.

Player out: Carlloyd Walters.

Coach: Nigel Stewart

Coach's view: We are hoping to finish much higher in the table this season. We have been underachievers in this competition because our results don't match our talent. I think we can make a serious challenge for the title this season, once we can remain focused and play well throughout the season.

HIGHGATE UNITED

HOME: DRAX HALL SPORTS COMPLEX

Position last season: 10th

Players in: Maurice Evans, Jerry Walters, Rohan Nelson, Carlos Barrett, Dwayne Holmes and Andrea Thomas.

Players out: None

Coach: Calvin Lewis

Coach's view: We expect a good season. However, we had a late start in our preparations, but we are working hard in training and so I expect them to give a good account of themselves this season.

SAVANNAH

HOME: FROME SPORTS COMPLEX

Position last season: Promoted

Players in: Fabian Blake, Shane Anderson, Linval Wilson, Davian Thorpe and Gavin Barrett and Nicholy Haughton.

Players out: None

Coach: Patrick Graham

Coach's view: We are anticipating a mid-table finish in the Premier League this season. We also intend to play some attractive football because we have been working extremely hard in training and we have seen a lot of improvement.

PORTMORE UNITED

HOME: FERDIE NEITA PARK

Position last season: 1st

Players in: Mouracio Gordon, Kendon Anderson, Ronaldo Rodney, Carlloyd Walters, Kereem Manning, Kenroy Thomas and Aldaine Grant.

Players out: Eric Vernan, Garice McPherson, Shantel Mundle, Rohan Nelson, Carlos Barrett and Ricardo Cousin.

Coach: André Waugh

Coach's view (Clive Marshall, manager): It is going to be a very tough challenge for us this season because, naturally, when you are the defending champions, the challenge will always be greater. However, we have given ourselves a good chance of retaining the title because we have a capable team that can get the job done.

WATERHOUSE

HOME: DREWSLAND MINI-STADIUM

Position last season: 3rd

Players in: Gregory Gayle, Nicholi Finlayson, Troy Reid, Jameel Thompson, Ashanu Smith and Juvaune Benjamin.

Players out: Loxley Thomas, Kamal Malcolm and Akeem Thenstead.

Coach: Donovan Duckie

Coach's view (Felix Porter, general secretary): The plan is for us to move up two places. I think that we should do very well this season.

Carvel Stewart

BOYS' TOWN

HOME: COLLIE SMITH DRIVE

Position last season: 2nd

Players in: Lloyd White, Ricardo Dennis, Leon Goffe and Romeo Parkes (loan).

Players out: Jermaine Allen and Maurice Evans.

Coach: Andrew Price

Coach's view: We hope to be very competitive this season. We are perennially slow starters, so we need to get a good start so we are up in the running from early and to remain consistent for the remainder of the season. We have earmarked 20 points minimum per round and we believe if we are able to achieve those goals we should be there at the end, as we normally are for the last two years.

Another objective for us is playing in the Caribbean Club Championship for the first time as a club, in addition to trying to get the Premier League title.

HUMBLE LION

HOME: EFFORTVILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE

Position last season: 4th

Players in: Richard Reid, Joel Messam and Shauntel Mundel.

Players out: Philmore Crumbie, Adrian Brown and Kevin Lamey.

Coach: Lenworth Hyde Sr

Coach's view: We want to improve on our fourth-place finish (last season). I think we look well and the players are ready to go, although we did not have a good preseason. We started late because of the financial situation with most of the clubs. We didn't do well at home last season, so I hope the players can come with a different mindset and stop pressuring themselves to please the spectators at home.

HARBOUR VIEW

HOME: HARBOUR VIEW MINI-STADIUM

Position last season: 6th

Players in: Roland Dean, Eric Vernan, Evan Taylor, Kevin Blackford, Nicholas McCreath, Kemar Lawrence, Demar Lawrence and Sean Fogah.

Players out: Fabian Campbell, Danielo Brown, Edroy Williams and Elton Thompson.

Coach: Vin Blaine

Coach's view: Our objective is to try and turn around things from last year. My first objective is to reach the first end-of-round-final, as last year we didn't reach any and that was the first time for a long time that we weren't doing so. Last year we drew 17 games, and if we had won half of those we would have won the Premier League, so this is where I am looking now; the mental approach of the players.

We lost a couple of our experienced players to the overseas trade and the majority of our under-21 players have come up, so we had to get a bit of experience coming in.

TIVOLI GARDENS

HOME: EDWARD SEAGA SPORTS COMPLEX

Position last season: 5th

Players in: Akeem Thenstead, Danielo Brown, Fabian Campbell, Edroy Williams and Fitzroy Campbell.

Players out: Roland Dean, Jameel Thompson, Nackwayne Parchment, Mitchilly Waul and Dwayne Holmes.

Coach: Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey

Coach's view (Alvin Shaw, assistant coach): There are no major acquisitions; there are a few players who came up through our youth system and left when they reached the Premier League level, but they have came back to us. We have retained 60 per cent of last year's squad; the other 40 per cent is made up of Under-21 players and unknown players who came to the trials in the preseason and we will see where they are able to adjust to our system of play.

Based on what I am seeing in training, I expect them to do well and I think we are capable of challenging for the trophy this season. Spirits are very high and they are working hard.