Seba goes out with a bang
MONTEGO BAY, St James — A chapter of Jamaica’s club football history was closed on Tuesday evening after Seba United, the former two-time national football champions went out with a bang with an almost clean sweep of all the awards at the presentation ceremony of the Jamaica Football Federation’s Western Confederation Super League at the Jamaica Grandiosa Resort.
Hours after the club’s name was officially changed to Montego Bay United FC at a press conference held at the Palmyra Resorts, the club collected all but one award along with their championships trophy and medals.
The name change was contentious, as several dozen fans had protested the name change of the club that had became a part of western Jamaica’s social fabric over the last 40 years or so.
In addition to winning lots of trophies both in St James and nationally, Seba United had supplied the national programme with top quality players including Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis, Allan Latty, Stephen Thompson, Alton Sterling, Hector Wright, as well as the late Stephen Malcolm.
Kemar James was the star of the show on Tuesday picking up three awards- the Most Valuable Player, top scorer with 22 goals and best striker, while three other teammates also picked up individual awards.
Tristan Bernard was named best goalkeeper, Daryl Murray- best defender and Iton Scott- best midfielder.
Danilo Barriga who led the team to the title before parting with the club days before they started their successful quest for promotion to the Premier League was awarded while Catherine Hall FC took the Fair Play award.
Seba United had dominated the competition, winning with four rounds of games still to be played as they on finished 59 points, 18 more than second placed Wadadah who had beaten them in the mid-season final.
Four referees, Jeffery Reece of Westmoreland, Arvin Malcolm of Hanover, Everol Jenkins of St James and Horace Clarke of Trelawny were recognised, as well as match commissary Andrea Gooden at Tuesday’s ceremony.