‘Everything is a challenge’ says Jabari Baker after Old Harbour United acquire premier league club

After 17 games Spanish Town Police FC are nestled at the root of the 14-team standing with eight points, seven behind 12-placed Harbour View FC. 

 The takeover, completed for an undisclosed fee, presents an immediate logistical challenge: the new coaching staff must reduce a bloated squad before the winter transfer window closes at month’s end.

Further compounding the pressure is the administrative task of formally rebranding the club to Old Harbour United — a process requiring significant paperwork, patience, and understanding.

For the club’s new owner and president, Jabari Baker — a young businessman who operates a trucking company in the United States — this marks a formidable new frontier.

“They are trying to help the team. They show up. Every day they’re working hard,” Baker said on The Solutions podcast on Old Harbour News YouTube channel. “It’s just that we are not getting the results that we wanted (sic) right now; so we are looking to make some changes because if you keep losing every week that means we not doing something right. So we are about to make some drastic changes especially this week where players is (sic) concern. 

“Everything right now is a challenge,” he added, while noting that only the physio from Spanish Town Police FC remained with the current first team that started the premier league. “It’s pretty much two teams. So every night we have like over 60, 70 players at training. We trying to give everyone a fair chance including the Old Harbour and Spanish Town players, plus there are also new players from other premier clubs that want to be a part.

“We’re trying to do this as swiftly as possible. So, I would say that is our biggest challenge right now. But everything is a challenge. Trust me. It’s not easy to be in the premier league. Its very difficult. You have to be very organized, especially on match day. It’s a lot of work.

“But like I said we looking for more people to join us. People who want to help us and ensure Old Harbour have a club in the premier league and the club stays up. This is not like a couple months thing or one year thing, we doing this for the future.”

The football academy will mirror that of other established models here in Jamaica and around the world. Parents need not to worry, Baker noted as tuition will be capped at an affordable rate. Also central to the club’s long-term goals is the integration of the community where players are ambassadors who embodies the spirit of an entire region of people.

But at the present moment “We are trying to not to lose focus on staying in the premier league”, said Baker, while looking to bring in players with premier league experience as the relegation fight becomes more difficult with every defeat. 

Click here to watch the full interview.