Patrick happy to see years-long JPL project through
Published:Tuesday | June 18, 2024 | 12:10 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
AT THE second time of asking, Racing FC have made their way into the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) and their coach, Anthony Patrick is overjoyed.
Racing earned the spot after a 2-1 aggregate win over Reno FC on Sunday in the Jamaica Football Federation’s Tier II competition’s semifinals. They lost the game 1-0 but had taken a 2-0 lead into the second leg after their exploits in the first.
The veteran coach who took over the reins of the St Catherine-based club seven years ago described the moment as ‘overwhelming’ and was proud to have achieved it with players and staff who have been there since inception.
“It’s an overwhelming feeling as this is what you set out to achieve from 2017 when I took charge of the club. I said to the owner (Nigel Walker), at the time, that I’ll coach this club while you just manage the St Catherine Manning Cup team. We then started to toil, work from there and it’s pleasing because all the players are there that started in 2017,” he explained.
Patrick believes Racing FC’s success came as a result of the close-knit nature of the unit and the coaching staff of the club. That family-like bond, he stated, has kept the players grounded and motivated.
“The management played a very important part. We are not just managers and coaches, we are like fathers to the youngsters as we bond with them right through and we are always in contact. That is the most important thing, hence the reason why we’ve had the players for such a long time,” he added.
The former Manning Cup winner is no stranger to coaching at the Jamaica Premier League level, having had stints with Portmore United, Waterhouse, Maverley-Hughenden and Molynes United.
According to Patrick, watching this season’s JPL at Sabina Park rekindled his appetite to be back at this level and he’s grateful to have achieved it with Racing FC.
“I’m very much excited. Sitting and watching the Premier League this season at Sabina Park was a sight to behold. Just witnessing the turnout and type of football being played. I said I want to get back in this Premier League and it has finally happened. I want to thank the Lord for making it happen.”
One of the first orders of business for the St Catherine-based club will be to add sponsors.
“The management team has done an amazing job and I’m sure that they’ll continue. We just need to get in a few sponsors now and we’ve been talking to a few from last season. Hopefully now that we’re in the JPL, we can get them to join in with us. These are youngsters but they have so much experience playing together, we also have about four to six senior players also on the roster.”
Racing FC join Clarendon’s Chapelton Maroons in next season’s JPL.
Chapelton, who are returning to the JPL after a one-season absence, defeated Tru-Juice 2-0 in their second-leg semifinal for a 4-1 aggregate win.