McKay Security Raiders aim at 2027 JPL

Having conquered the martial arts world, most recently coaching Jamaica's Combined Martial Arts team to eight medals, including six gold, at the International Sport Kickboxing Association Amateur Members Association (ISKA AMA) World Championships in Germany, Jason McKay has sights set on attaining another feat - taking the McKay Security Raiders Football Club to the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) in record time.

Now campaigning in St Catherine Division One after being relegated last season, McKay hopes McKay Raiders will be inspired by McKay Security's Business House Football Association Division One title triumph earlier this year.

McKay Security netted four consecutive goals from the spot to beat defending champions Petrojam 4-3 on penalties after falling behind 0-1 in the 83rd minute. It was a telling victory for McKay Security, who had made their Division Two debut in 2019, going down on penalties in the final to Seprod.

"McKay Security took four years to win Business House Division One, a major milestone. I now vow to have McKay Raiders playing Premier League football by 2027," said McKay.

Using sports to engage youths across various communities, McKay, perennial sponsor of Jamaica's combined martial arts team, said his company has always focused on adding football to its sporting ventures.

"I was first introduced to the sport by Lincoln 'Happy' Sutherland, many-time St Catherine Football Association president. I sponsored the federation for years before spending some time sponsoring various divisions in Kingston and St Andrew Football Association," he explained.

Eventually appointed president of New Raiders Football Club, he rebranded the team McKay Security Raiders, twice reaching the St Catherine Division One final.

Coach Aurane Phoenix, who led McKay Security to their dramatic business house title win, endorsed McKay's football push.

"The management of McKay Security are strong believers in football development in Jamaica. They have continued to invest in developing football with an in-house team and McKay Raiders, who play in the St Catherine League," he said.

To achieve his Premier League objective, McKay has assembled a management team, including sports administrator and former Reggae Boyz manager Rodney McPherson and a slew of coaches led by Gladstone Harriott.

"When I had promised to make the Jamaican martial arts team one of the best in the world, most people laughed as they considered the sport an Asia-dominated discipline. Within three years, Jamaica were beating Japan, China, and Vietnam, dominating ISKA events," McKay pointed out.