CONSTANT SPRING, A League winners last year, are stepping up to the Premier League with high hopes.
Having been fortunate to have lost only Roen Nelson to Hazard, coach Danny Lyn feels retaining the core of the team should make his job easier.
"The whole situation of the team coming back from last year is a good sign," said Lyn.
"The younger players who got experience last year have improved this year. There are a lot of requests from overseas players to come and try out for Constant Spring so we will be looking at them," he said.
"The team as it is right now is playing good but I figure that between now and the third or fourth game we'll be in full cry. The unity is there, the synchronisation is there and they're just about getting into match condition."
Oneil McDonald, Dean Sewell, Gregory Simmonds, Lincoln Taffe, Fabian Watkins, Moses Brown, Richard Henry and Greg Gardner are the players charged with the responsibility of leading the 'Springs' in the quest for their first Premier League title.
Constant Spring open their campaign against Arnett Gardens at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex on Sunday.
NEW SIGNINGS: Patrick Reid (Waterhouse), Victor Samuels (Santos).
DEPARTURES: Roen Nelson (Hazard).
Waterhouse poised to do well
LAST year's National Premier League (NPL) runners-up Waterhouse got off to a late start but are determined to challenge all and sundry for Championship honours this season.
"We started training late. We were about five weeks behind in training," said coach Geoffrey Maxwell.
"The reason behind that, was to ensure that the field upgrading was complete. We had to sacrifice training early and it will prevent us from playing to our full potential until the middle of October."
With only the loss of Patrick Reid, who has returned to Constant Spring, the core of the squad remains intact and poised to do well again.
Craig White, Kirk Martin, Irvino English, Damion Powell, Andrew Halloway and the speedy Alberto Fray are all still at Drewsland where they have helped the team to an impressive winning streak of eight in pre-season games and the signs are there that they will once again figure prominently in the league.
Waterhouse open their campaign against Tivoli at the Ferdie Neita Park on Sunday.
NEW SIGNINGS: Loxley Reid (returns from Arnett Gardens), Kevin Eldemire (returns from Maverley-Hughenden), Leroy Smith (returns from Maverley-Hughenden), Michael Thompson (Shortwood), Jerome Thompson (Cooreville) and Gary Brooks (Santos).
DEPARTURES: Patrick Reid (returned to Constant Springs).
Repeat on H. View's mind
CHAMPIONS Harbour View are earnestly preparing to successfully defend their Premier League title.
Under the watchful eyes of Peter Cargill, the east Kingston team is reportedly responding well to the rigours or training.
"They are traning okay," said Cargill.
"We have to just plan like we did last season and take it each game as they come. We have a very good mix of youth and experience which should serve us well," said the former national player who is also assisting technical director Clovis de Oliveira with the preparation of the national team.
Harbour View have not played a lot of games in preparation for the season but with the quality players they have in Donald Stewart, Oneil Smith, Clifton Waugh, Jermaine Hue, Damion Stewart, Robert Scarlett, Mark Miller, Kevin Rose and Barrington Gaynor, it is expected they will rise to occasion when they take on Hazard at the Harbour View Mini-stadium on Sunday.
NEW SIGNINGS: Fabian Taylor (Central Link), Ezra Prendergast (Real Mona), Daniel Shaw (August Town) and Sean Henry (August Town).
DEPARTURES: Andre Virtue, Kahreem Cooke, Garfield White and Roger Delfosse.
