Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Harbour View's Lenworth Hyde Sr. (left) receives the Coach of the Year award from national football technical director, Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic, at the Jamaica Football Federation Wray and Nephew National Premier League awards ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Thursday night. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Premier league champions Harbour View dominated proceedings at the Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) awards ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Thursday night, collecting a total of six awards.

The title holders accepted a nicely remodelled Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) Trophy with grateful cheers and hoots.

However, top striker Fabian Taylor was also a big winner when he walked away with the Tony Burrowes Player Personality award and a cash award of $100,000.

With 67 goals scored last season they also picked up the award for the Most Attacking Team, with young custodian Dwayne Miller picking up the Youth Player of the Year Award. In his first year at the helm for the Stars of the East, their coach, Lenworth Hyde Sr., was also voted Coach of the Year.

Discipline pays off

"It really meant a lot to me. It just shows you what discipline and hard work can do for a team, it really paid off," said Hyde, who was presented his award by national technical director, Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic.

"The guys did not want the same thing that happened to them last year to happen to them again. They worked and put their hearts into it," added Hyde in relation to his team's slumber the previous season when they gave up a 13-point advantage and lost the title.

Looking forward to the 2007-08 campaign, Hyde said: "We basically have the same team we did last year headed into this season, so we are looking forward to doing really well," he said.

The toast of the individual awards went to Boys' Town top goal scorer, George Vernal, who picked up the Player of the Season award, despite the ninth-place finish of his team. Vernal had a total of nine goals for the season but scored at crucial times for the Red Brigade.

Waterhouse's Irvino English, though not in attendance, was awarded the league's leading-scorer award with a total of 18 goals. English raced tothe top of the table with five goals against Wadadah late in the season, while Drewsland custodian Richard McCallum collected the award on his behalf.

Second-place Portmore United, with a meagre 19 goals allowed for the season, was voted the Best Defensive team, while the Ground Incentive award worth $25,000 went to Tivoli Gardens for the upkeep of their facilities at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex.

The Peter Cargill award for the Most Disciplined team - given out in tribute to the late, former national player, Harbour View and Water-house coach - went to third-placed Reno, who also collect a $200,000 cash prize.

Another western team, Seba United, also got in on the act when they walked away with the league's Fair Play award.