Dunbeholden looking forward to home return

Paul Christie, the manager of Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) club Dunbeholden FC, believes that the rich vein of form his side has found recently could continue for a long time as the club is set to play their home games in their community next month.

The Dunbeholden Playing Field, which has been under reconstruction since the beginning of the season, is almost complete and Christie believes that the effect of the 12th man could help them to get into the playoffs for the first time in the club’s history.

“Do not underestimate the value of the 12th man (fans), and this is why we have pushed for the facility to be developed so that we can play in front of our fans in the community,” Christie said.

Dunbeholden, who are in their second year in the RSPL, have been playing their home games at Royal Lakes Complex since arriving in the league as their home field did not meet the standards required by the Jamaica Football Federation to host RSPL games.

However, a $13 million sponsorship from Gore Development Ltd will bring back football to the Dunbeholden community before the end of January as the required stands and changing rooms are almost completed, according to Christie.

“We are putting in the final touches on the stands and the changing rooms. We are also trying to organise an opening ceremony for the facility in the third week of January and move our home games there from thereon,” Christie explained. “We did not come in the Premier League just to be here and whatever we can do to help this team do well, then we are going to do it.”

Christie and his staff have also been making moves to improve the team on the field as they have added Curtis Hamilton, who assisted Donovan Duckie two seasons ago at Waterhouse FC, to their coaching staff recently.

“He has brought a positive spin to the entire programme, working with head coach Miguel Smith,” Christie said.

Dunbeholden moved into the top six and are in playoffs contention for the first time in their history after they downed defending champions Portmore United 2-1 at the Spanish Town Prison Oval last Sunday.

They are now on a four-game unbeaten streak and could extend it today when they host the struggling Tivoli Gardens at the Royal Lakes Complex.