Father’s love for football, death spur Brown

Former JC player enjoying life after football with Caribbiana FC

Published: Sunday | December 31, 2023 | 12:12 AM Roxroy McLean - Contributor

THE CARIBBIANA Football Club in Hudson Valley, New York, home to 115 young talents, is making huge strides within the football world by allowing players to hone their skills at an affordable cost.

Its founder and technical director, Oshane Brown, a former star player on Jamaica College’s (JC’s) 2007 winning Manning Cup team, says the club, which began operations in December last year, is in honour of his late father Owen Brown, who was murdered on January 2, 2009 in Seven Miles, Bull Bay.

“The death of my father made me really want to continue with football and coaching, because he had a passion for it,” said Brown, who migrated to the United States in 2009 on a football scholarship to Western Texas College.

Brown said his father was pivotal to his football development, which started at St Benedict’s Primary in Harbour View, Kingston where they lived.

“Him never come all the matches but he made sure that I have the basics. Him make sure mi have mi football boots and was always encouraging me to focus on making it in football,” said the 34-year-old in a recent interview with The Sunday Gleaner.

Despite a promising start, Brown could not carve out a successful career in football because of injuries, lack of motivation, and the emotional burden of his father’s death.

However, he has since been able to create a niche with Caribbiana FC which, he says, prides itself on fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for its players, whose ages ranges from 10 to 23.

“We have something strong going on here and I believe that, within a couple years, our brand will expand and people will start taking more notice of us,” said Brown, who is also the head coach of Oakwood Friends School in Poughkeepsie, New York.

“That school is very, very important to what I do today,” said Brown, while emphasising the support he has been receiving from them.

“They provide me with the facilities indoors and outdoors for our home games and practices all year round at an affordable cost. In fact, it was at a sports award ceremony at the school, when I gave a speech about the soccer programme that exists here, that I decided to start my own club,” he added.

“I came up with the name of the club with one player, Owen Bergin, and started its operations with three players. Then, little by little, more players started to arrive,” Brown said.

TEAM

On staff, the club has four coaches, a director of sales and recruitment, director of operations, and director of media relations.

There are six teams currently at Caribbiana FC, from the U-10 to U-23 levels. The players are mostly recruited from within the surrounding areas, or through word-of-mouth promotions.

The club’s Under-15s were crowned champions of the Elite Development Programme (EDP) league in June.

They have also won the STA Greystone Cup, which was held in July in New Jersey, to go along with the famous Hershey’s Cup they won in August.

Although Brown has been developing young talents abroad, the former Harbour View Football Club Under-20 captain says his long-term vision is to import players from Jamaica.

“Jamaica has a lot of talented footballers, but one of the things that prevents them from moving on to the next level is having the right resources around them. What I am doing here is to lay a foundation that will help young players to go on to the next level. My long-term plan is also to identify and bring in the right talents from Jamaica who fit the philosophy of Caribbiana FC, because we have had some serious talents in Jamaica over the years, including myself,” said Brown.

Despite having a busy schedule, Brown says he still makes the effort to watch as many high-school football matches in Jamaica as he can.

He says the likes of Ashani Walker and Junior Flemmimgs, former serial winners and captains of JC, and Kingston College’s Dujian ‘Whisper’ Richards, have been the standout players in schoolboy football since his playing days.

“Those three, to me, have been a cut above the rest. There have been great teams over the years like the current Clarendon College team, but, individually, I don’t see any other players reaching their levels,” Brown said.

Our oldest team playing in the U19 bracket, our original 2008 team, has been moved into the RAL, Regional Academy League, to represent the club in EDP’s new top Division 1. This is an amazing accomplishment for a group of talented players to continue to showcase their talents. We continue to have our 2009 and 2010/11 teams playing in the Westchester Division of the New York Soccer Club League managed by EDP. Our youngest teams of 2012s and 2013s continue to play locally in the Hudson Valley Soccer League.

Thank you for being a part of the incredible journey we've embarked upon together. Our mission has always been clear: to provide soccer players of all backgrounds with a safe, confident, and respectful environment that nurtures their growth both on and off the field. Together with other like-minded parents and coaches, we facilitate the work environment and mindset needed to help your player reach their potential.

Over our first three years, we've seen firsthand how this supportive atmosphere transforms young athletes into strong community-minded individuals. It's about more than just developing soccer skills; it's about educating and shaping character. By fostering respect, confidence, and teamwork, we're creating better players and better people.

Our commitment remains steadfast as we continue to provide opportunities for every player to thrive. We believe in the power of sports to bring out the best in our youth and are dedicated to ensuring that each child who walks onto our field feels valued and empowered. As we celebrate this milestone, let's look forward to many more years of growth, unity, and success in our shared mission.

The machine of for-profit soccer in the United States does not benefit the youth. It prioritizes monetary gain over genuine development, often leaving behind those who cannot afford exorbitant fees. As a tiny club in the Hudson Valley, we continue to recognize this disparity and are determined to change it. By joining forces with other nonprofits, we aim to break that mold and provide advanced training to all kids in our neighborhoods—not just the superstars or those with deep pockets.

Our mission is rooted in the belief that every child deserves access to quality soccer training regardless of their financial background. We understand that talent and passion are not exclusive to wealthy families; they exist in every corner of our community. By offering affordable programs and scholarships, we ensure that no child is left behind due to economic barriers.

Together, we can create a more inclusive environment where every young athlete has the opportunity to thrive. It's time to dismantle the for-profit structure that hinders true growth and replace it with a model built on equality, passion, and community support. Join us in this movement—let's show that when communities unite for a common cause, real change is possible.