New Raiders’ Brown gets Macedonia trial | Sports

New Raiders Football Club centre back Richard Brown departed the island yesterday for a 15‑day trial with Macedonian First League outfit FK Skopje. The 25‑year‑old travelled alongside members of the club’s executive.

Brown, who previously represented four‑time Jamaica Premier League champions Cavalier, has also played for Treasure Beach in St Elizabeth and in the St Catherine Football Association for New Raiders, St Catherine Police and Dunbeholden.

His journey to North Macedonia follows the recent moves of fellow Jamaicans Renaldo Cephas, Revaldo Mitchell and Cristojaye Daley. Cephas, a former Arnett Gardens winger, excelled for FC Shkupi with 11 goals in 29 league matches during the 2022-23 season before earning a high‑profile transfer to Turkish club MKE Ankaragücü.

FK Skopje, promoted to the First League on June 1 after finishing runners‑up in the Second League, are looking to strengthen their squad ahead of their third top‑flight stint in nine years.

Brown said he is grateful and excited for his first international opportunity.

“I have to give thanks to the Almighty. Without Him, nothing is possible. I am really excited for the opportunity that presents itself. I am just gonna go out there and do my best, give my all to make my family and management staff, Jason and Tye McKay, happy as they have been putting in the work for the past few months.

“A lot of sacrifice has been put into this. I am just going out there to make myself and these people proud,” Brown added.

Jason McKay, owner of the McKay Security Football Group – which includes McKay New Raiders, KSAFA Major League team Meadhaven, and McKay Security, winners of the KSAFA Business House knockout and Raymond Quallo Memorial Trophy – said Brown is ready to show his quality.

“He has always been an exceptional player but missed the window as a teenager to go international because of the COVID‑19 pandemic,” McKay said.

“He is now at the peak of the game. He was put on a strength‑training programme for all of July and is really in great physical condition. He has a lot to offer in Macedonia,” McKay added.