The 2010-2011 Digicel Premier League football competition is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, August 29. As the Observer continues its daily preview of the teams, today we look at defending champions Harbour View FC of East Kingston.

DEFENDING Digicel Premier League (DPL) champion Harbour View has just unveiled their new club logo depicting three stars at the top which signifies their three titles won in 2000, 2007 and 2009.

But come next season, the designers might have to change the artwork because Harbour View are hell bent on winning their fourth title, and they must start favourites to do so.

Harbour View’s general manager Clyde Jureidini, a trained graphic artist, is hopeful he will have to change the logo again at the end of the season.

Said Jureidini : “Hopefully, we can face those challenges at the end of this season and going forward. This is standard procedure in the world of international football; we’re just introducing while adjusting to those standards.”

Harbour View used one of the youngest teams to lift the DPL last season, amassing 77 points, which was 11 more than their nearest rivals Tivoli Gardens, and they know that this season everybody will be gunning for their scalp.

But Jureidini insists his team is really motivated and will be giving of their best to thwart the added attention and become repeat champions.

“The coaching staff, administrators and players are highly motivated to begin from square one, forgetting last season and dealing with the added pressure of being champions with a target on your head.

“The aim is to raise the level of performances to surpass last season while setting new horizons to excel internationally,” he pointed out.

Harbour View made their intentions quite clear by capturing the pre-season tournament — the Claro Champion’s Cup — but Jureidini doesn’t want to make too much of it.

“A fair pre-season indicator only and (we) will not read too much into the Claro Champions Cup victory as the end result, just a good starting point in player confidence along the journey that truly begins this Sunday against Humble Lions, who beat us, and the only club we could not defeat last season. We want to correct that data sheet immediately,” he noted.

The ‘Stars of the East’ once again demonstrated their strength and depth in youth, blooding an entire fledgling side including the likes of Dicoy Williams, Andre Fagan, Jahmali Spence, Ranique Muir, Romario Campbell, John Ross-Edwards and Rafeik Thomas.

It is to be borne in mind that they played without the mercurial Jermaine Hue, the wily Kavin Bryan and the hard-tackling Richard Edwards, which formed the backbone of this young and talented team.

At the moment coach Donovan Hayles thinks they are only 60 to 65 per cent ready, and this must be a worrying sign for the rest of the DPL contenders.

At this time of the season, most clubs are extremely busy in the transfer window, but Harbour View are relying mostly on their youth system to provide talent and success.

“Only a few new players as the internal HVFC system is to elevate our younger talent from the Under-21 triple champions with the same mindset,” revealed Jureidini.

“About three Under-21 players and another two seniors will be confirmed by Thursday,” he noted.

With such depth in talent, it would take a very brave punter to bet against Harbour View winning the title again this year and securing their fourth lien on the prestigious Premier League trophy.