Portmore’s Walker, Satchwell make overseas pro moves
PORTMORE United Football Club is today celebrating the overseas professional moves for two of its talented players.
Reggae Boyz attacking midfielder Lamar Walker recently signed for United Arab Emirates (UAE) professional football club Al Dhaid, which competes in the UAE First Division League.
The other Portmore player on the move is midfielder Shakeone Satchwell, who has signed with NK Rogaska of Slovenia on a one-year loan spell.
Walker, who was developed through the Portmore United FC youth system, was an outstanding talent at both the schoolboy level for Clarendon College and the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), helping the St Catherine club to two JPL titles during 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.
The diminutive player also had a spell with Miami FC in the United Soccer League (USL) for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
For Portmore last season the 22-year-old Walker produced standout performances in the Lynk Cup — the national knockout competition — and was selected its Most Valuable Player of the final after the club was crowned champions for the inaugural season.
Philip Williams, head coach at Portmore United FC, said: “Lamar Walker is a very special talent and we’re very pleased that he will continue pursuing his dreams of international club football at Al Dhaid in the UAE.
“He was a very important player for us over the past four months, when he rejoined from his stint at Miami FC. We are confident he will do well in the UAE league and, hopefully, we will see him soon in the national colours again.”
Walker is represented by British-born agent Fitzroy Simpson, a veteran of Jamaica’s historic Reggae Boyz team to France ’98 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Satchwell won over NK Rogaska after the attacking midfielder’s performance on his recent training stint at Sturm Graz, an Austrian club playing in the Austrian Football Bundesliga.
Satchwell had an exceptional season in last season’s schoolboy football competition with St Andrew Technical High School and contributed significantly to them finishing second to Jamaica College in the Manning Cup.
He also impressed for Portmore in last season’s Jamaica Premier League and Lynk Cup knockout competitions. He assisted the club in winning the Lynk Cup.
Portmore Coach Williams said the opportunity could provide invaluable exposure for the midfielder.
“[We] are very pleased that Satchwell has taken another important step in his professional journey. Credit must be given to his determination to achieve at the highest level of the sport, and this platform in Slovenia should hopefully advance his growth and development.
“We are confident in his success. And he’s an inspiration to many young footballers from very humble beginnings like himself that ambition, driven with focus and the willingness to invest in oneself, can turn dreams into reality.”
Football agent Kevin Cowan, who also represents several Jamaican players including national player Shamar Nicholson and Kaheem Parris, was responsible for securing the training development opportunity for Satchwell.
“I’m really excited for Satchwell; this is a very good step for him. It will be challenging, of course, as there is a lot for him to learn, but he has shown me that he has a good mindset and the aptitude to learn — these are very important traits required for him to succeed. Now, the work for him begins,” said Cowan.
The recent signings of Walker and Satchwell continue a rich tradition of Portmore United’s focused efforts of getting players into more lucrative professional markets overseas. The two follow club stalwarts Rudolph Austin, Claude Davis, Omar Daley, Jason Morrison, Eric Vernan, Ricardo Cousins, Alvas Powell, Javon East, Malique Foster, Andre Lewis, Tevin Shaw, Venton Evans, and Tremaine Stewart, who have all plied their trade in Europe and North America.