NEW Raiders Football Club centre back Richard Brown, 25, has high hopes of joining Macedonian First League outfit FK Skopje.

Brown left the island Friday morning, accompanied by members of New Raiders’ executive, for a 15-day trial at the newly promoted North Macedonian team.

Brown, who has represented four-time Jamaica Premier League champions Cavalier, has also donned the colours of St Elizabeth’s Treasure Beach. He has primarily played in the St Catherine Football Association for New Raiders, St Catherine Police and Dunbeholden.

Brown’s journey to North Macedonia follows those of fellow Jamaicans Renaldo Cephas, Revaldo Mitchell and Cristojaye Daley.

Reggae Boy Cephas, a former Arnett Gardens winger, starred for FC Shkupi, scoring 11 goals in 29 league games during the 2022-23 season before securing a high-profile transfer to Turkish club MKE Ankaragücü.

FK Skopje, who won promotion to the first league after finishing runners-up in the second league, will be looking to bolster their squad for a third stint in nine years among North Macedonia’s top-tier teams on June 1.

Brown, who was extremely happy to get his first international opportunity, said he was excited at the prospect of playing overseas.

“I have to give thanks to the Almighty. Without him, nothing is possible. I am really excited for the opportunity that presents itself. I am just gonna go out there and do my best; give my all to make my family and management staff — Jason and Tye McKay, who have been putting in the work for the past few months — [proud].

“A lot of sacrifice has been put into this. I am just going out there to make myself and these people proud,” Brown said.

Jason McKay, owner of the McKay Security Football Group — which includes McKay New Raiders; Kingston and St Andrew Football Association’s (KSAFA) Major League team Meadhaven; as well as McKay Security, KSAFA Business House knockout winners; and Raymond Quallo Memorial Trophy holders — said Brown is expected to show his class on trial.

“He has always been an exceptional player but missed the window as a teenager to go international because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” McKay said. “He is now at the peak of the game. He was put on a strength training programme for all of July and is really in great physical condition. He has a lot to offer in Macedonia.”