THIS YEAR’S transfer market has not been as busy as in previous seasons among the Premier League football teams.
With less than a week before the scheduled start of the 2012 season next Sunday, Premier?League newcomers KDJ?Auto Spares Dayrells Road and ICE Wales are among the busiest shoppers for new talent.
The biggest transfer is talented but temperamental national midfielder Curtis Odle’s from Pride of Gall Hill to Dayrells Road.
Odle’s transfer was on the cards ever since he was unable to secure a pick in the Christ Church-based T. S. Strikers side during the draft for last year’s inaugural LIME/Pelican Challenge.
Dayrells Road, who came second to the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) Sports Programme in last year’s Division One competition, will also benefit from the services of former Barbados midfielder Richard Marshall, who has transferred from Division One side Clarke’s Hill.
Also joining Dayrells Road are Andre Small and Linden Watson from Youth Milan and Haggatt Hall respectively.
Dayrells Road will be in action from the first kick-off as they are slated to play Bagatelle in the season opener at 6 p.m. following the parade of teams at 3 p.m.
St Michael arch-rivals Mackeson Brittons Hill and ICE?Wales will clash in the feature game at 8 p.m.
Wales, while retaining all their top players from last season such as Dwayne Stanford, Paul “Soup” Lovell, Dwayne McClean, Julian Mottley and Jabar Greene, have recuited six new players.
They are also trying to finalize the recruitment of St Lucian national player Zacchaeus Polius from Bagatelle.
The six already joining the Carrington Village-based outfit are Corey McCollin from Ellerton; Carlo Perry from L and R United, Kirk Best from?Bagatelle, Chad McCollin from Kick Start, and Pinelands duo Mario Ramsey and Chris Hoyte.
Defending champions Youth Milan will have a new coach this season with hometown boy Jerry Skeete returning to replace Randolph Cox.
There is also speculation over whether striker Arantes Lawrence will return to Brittons Hill from Bagatelle, who have recruited former St Lucy Secondary six-footer Jamar “Crouch” Grazettes from the Shawn Hope Selection.
At the close of the transfer window last week, most of the transfers approved by the Barbados Football Association (BFA) had been among the junior teams.
Others joining Bagatelle are Jermaine Best from Notre Dame and Tibu Levi Johnson from Jackson.
Former BDF defender Tito Beckles is among five players who will be teaming up with the University of the West Indies team.
The others are Kurtley Clarke and Noel Harris from Carlton, Gregory Applewhaite and Lamar Olton from Benfica, and Antonio Atkins from CSU to UWI.
Division Two side Porey Spring of St Thomas have been the biggest shoppers in the transfer market with a whopping eight new players.
Renaldo Hunte comes over from Benfica while Jomo Harewood and Sean Harewood join Porey Spring from Bagatelle and Pinelands respectively. The others are Denzil Moore, Marlon Carrington, Michael Carrington, Jamar Ifill and Nicholai Fagan.
Other transferees are Ryan Hunte from Clarke’s Hill to Ellerton; Kevin Gittens from Ellerton to Clarke’s Hill; Tremaine St Hill from Ellerton to Haggatt Hall, and Shola Blades from Blackspurs to Checker Hall.
