PORTMORE UNITED'S GOALKEEPER Shawn Sawyers and striker Roen Nelson leave the island today to take up professsional loan contracts with Joe Public Football Club in Trinidad and Tobago during the break from the just concluded Wray and Nephew National Premier League.
Another Portmore United player, ace midfielder Winston Griffiths, left the island on Saturday for the United States where he is slated to take up a contract with the Vancouver Wildcats in the North American 'A' League.
Sawyers, who has been voted the most outstanding goalkeeper in the Premier Leage for the past three years says he is looking forward to the opportunities that the stint should provide.
Footballing dream
"It has always been my dream to play professional football outside of Jamaica, and this is an opportunity for which I am very grateful. I am sure it will give me a chance to sharpen my skills. I am also hoping this would help me to elevate my game to another level and hopefully compete successfully for a lead role in the national team," said Sawyers.
Nelson was also in good spirits about the impending deal and thought it had been a long time in coming.
"Two years ago I stated publicly my desire to play professional football in Europe, I am, however, very excited with this opportunity to continue developing my skills in another League outside of Jamaica. I wish to thank those responsible for making this possible," he said.
Nelson holds the record of the most Premier League goals in a season with 30 goals last season. In what could be described as an off-colour season, the striker racked up 17 goals to lead his team to a deserved semi-final berth in 2003-2004.
Griffiths thinks his experience will make him of benefit to the Wildcats.
Griffiths played Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States for the New York New Jersey Metro Stars, L.A. Galaxy and the New England Revolutions before signing with Portmore United last season.
"My professional experience in the MLS will serve me well in this competition, so too my experience this season with Portmore United. I am in great shape and have therefore set high expectations of myself while at Vancouver. I still have a burning desire to represent my country and hopefully this will also help my form," said the talented playmaker.
Portmore's General Manager Clive Marshall was also pleased with the loans and thought his team stands to benefit from them.
"Hopefully we'll have them back with us for the start of the Premier League," he told THE STAR. He added: "They (the players) will have a good pre-season in preparation for the league and that will be a plus for us."
