Dunbeholden desperate for home comfort

Dunbeholden's team manager, Paul Christie, said the club is aiming to get their own home ground up to Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) standards, this after it was announced that the team will play their next home match at the Royal Lakes Complex.

The St Catherine-based team, which usually play at the Dunbeholden Complex, has been using the Spanish Town Prison Oval as its home ground in the RSPL. However, last weekend, defending champions Portmore United, which also play their home games at that venue, were forced to forfeit their home advantage and travel to Frome for what should have been their home game against Reno, due to a scheduling clash.

Dunbeholden were then able to host Harbour View, and the RSPL newcomers will be returning the favour this week when they face Cavalier at Royal Lakes, allowing Portmore to enjoy home comforts when they play UWI at Prison Oval.

Christie explained the reasons behind the move, but noted that the ultimate goal is to develop their own venue - Dunbeholden Complex, and bring it in line with requirements to host RSPL games.

"The venue was changed based on the fact that Dunbeholden FC and Portmore FC are both tenants to Prison Oval. On the 14th (October), Portmore should have hosted Reno, as well as Dunbeholden hosting Harbour View FC. So we sat and decided we (Dunbeholden) would host the first game and choose an alternate venue for the second clash, and that's the reason behind it (move)," Christie told The Gleaner. Christie said there were no disputes in the agreement, as the clubs have a great relationship.

"We are both parish teams, so whatever we can do to facilitate each other, we should. Portmore have given us players on loan as well as some transfers, so we don't have an issue where relationship is concerned, we exercise a good business relationship," he reasoned, before discussing their ambition.

"Our aim is to get the Dunbeholden venue up to par, so home games can be played and fans can get the Premier League experience. I appeal to corporate Jamaica and the business community in Portmore and St Catherine to help bring our venue up the Premier League standard, as we are trying desperately."

"We are grateful for the Prison Oval, but it's not conducive, because we are in Portmore and it is in Spanish Town. When a spectator has a money for the gate receipts, the travelling with deter him, so we are looking to get more home experience and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to facilitate that. We are not able to maximise our home venue, because it is not up to standard. But we are now looking at how we can get our own home venue, so fans can have their home experience," he continued.

Dunbeholden are currenly sitting in 9th position on the RSPL points table, after securing 6 points (two wins) from their first six games in top flight football.