Hyde wants Portmore players to ‘look further than Jamaica’

PORTMORE United will take on a new look under coach Lenworth Hyde when the 2022 Jamaica Premier League season kicks off.

Two experienced players, midfield talisman Ricardo Morris and striker Cleon Pryce, have moved to Mount Pleasant Academy. Several players with years of experience have also left for other clubs.

New coach Hyde said the club will be banking on young talent to carry the mantle for the five-time champions when the league kicks off in January.

According to Hyde financial constraints prevented the club from retaining some senior players who sought greener pastures elsewhere. They were also unable to attract proven experienced players from other clubs.

As a result, he said they will be looking to bring through young players.

"It will be a new look Portmore, only 12 players from last year have remained. Most have moved on. We are just building the programme right now and we got in some youths, so we just have to build with what we have," he said.

"After the daCosta and Manning Cups competitions are completed we will also have some new young players coming in again," he added.

Hyde said his coaching skills will be fully tested but he was up for the challenge

"It will test your ability," he said. The veteran coach and former national player said a good coach will always be able to build a good unit from the players he has in his squad. Hyde, who last coached in the premier league with Humble Lion in the 2017-2018 season, said there has been a lot of changes since he last worked with Portmore in 2016-17.

Although getting to the final will still be a major objective, he admits that their focus is much more than winning titles.

"We want our players to look further than Jamaica, because there's no real money here. They have to try and perform and get a contract outside. So we want them to use the Jamaica Premier League as a stepping stone to highlight their ability and showcase it overseas.

"These young players will have to step up and show their worth and what they can do and let the public see them.

"That is what we are using to motivate the players because there's nothing much here.

"So that (title) is not the main focus right now, if it comes it comes, we are just trying to build right now.

"We would like to win it but we want to try and improve over every round and try and make it to the final," he said.

Portmore failed to make the play-offs in the last premier league season.