Facey impressed with new-look Premier League

Former Reno captain and new US Army private Alburn Facey said he is very impressed with the professionalism of the nation's top football competition, the National Premier League.

Facey, who was locked off from the world as he undergo rigorous training in the US Army, admitted that he knew nothing of the transformation that was taking shape on the Jamaican football landscape..

However, since graduating this month, the 28-year-old looked to catch up on football developments in the country and was in awe of what he saw.

"What I see is a good look for Jamaican football right now. Just imagine each individual club having its own sponsor, versus a body that is trying to create something for the entire league.

"It is harder to govern like that because you have to be thinking about a lot of other things. But when you have a particular company focusing on just one particular club, it is a win-win for all, as the companies will give their products and services and, in turn, the club will promote it," he said.

He continued: "So this is the way forward for Jamaica's football right now. I would not recede from this plan. This is a better system, the strategy will work for Jamaica's football."

Numerous Hardships

As a player, Facey said he and his peers face numerous hardships regarding salary and injuries, and he believes that players are the ones who will be most pleased with these improvements.

"The players will be excited to know that they are now a part of a franchise and they are not just representing themselves, they are now representing a brand on and off the field.

"From what I read, they say it will help the players recover faster (from injuries). Most of us didn't have the right treatment to recover the right way, we just had to use traditional ways," he said.

He also added :. "Back then, sometimes we only got paid every other month, because of the time the PLCA released the money.

"But having individual sponsor, they will know what is coming in and what should be going out, and that means the players will be paid on time. And when players are paid on time, it means increased performance."