Clubs struggle with Premier League uncertainty
Published:Thursday | December 10, 2020 | 12:06 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
As organisers of the National Premier League and the Ministry of Health and Wellness continue their work towards an approval for the start of the 2020-2021 season, clubs across the country are taking varied approaches, during an extended preseason, that is creating several challenges for the nation’s top local players and teams.
Five-time champions Tivoli Gardens are among those which have decided to suspended training indefinitely, while Dundeholden are aiming to keep going until they get confirmation of a starting date, with Humble Lion deciding to continue to work online, until a start date has been determined.
According to Dunbeholden’s manager, Paul Christie, keeping players and coaches motivated has been an uphill task, given the uncertainties surrounding the competition. He also noted that the club’s finances have hit rock bottom and that they are in dire need of support in order to stay afloat until the season gets the green light.
“We are trying to keep the sessions going, but based on the fact that we do not have a definitive return date, it is tough. Sponsors and potential sponsors are singing one chorus at this time and that is, they are not able spend their marketing dollar on a product that has no starting date. So our resources are being exhausted at this time,” Christie told The Gleaner.
CLUBS DILEMMA
Although the club is considering halting training activities, Christie said they want to keep going over the holiday period.
“We know the members of the PFJL (Professional Football Jamaica Limited) are putting in a lot of work in the background, but the dilemma of the clubs right now is a very difficult one, as preseason is just as expensive as the season,” Christie added. “We have to sit down as a group to decide if we should pack up shop now and resume in January, and it is a difficult sell for your players in the Christmas break, to tell them we don’t have any resources for them at this time. It is difficult, because how do you get them back in January?”
Clarendon-based team Humble Lion have been working virtually, and coach Andrew Price insists they will continue until a definitive date is set.
“We are in the same position we have been in since the start of the season. Until we get a definitive position from the ministry, we will wait. We haven’t started group training. We have been having virtual training, and the word from the ministry is that there will be no football until 2021; but once a decision is made, we will get ready for the start of the season,” said Price, who also shared that players have been receiving a reduced salary from the club.
Meanwhile, Tivoli Gardens coach Philip Williams said his club had no choice but to suspend training.
“We stopped training about two weeks now. We have stopped training for more than one reason, but it is all based on the uncertainty of the league and the news that it (league) wasn’t going to be played until 2021,” said Williams. “The break was basically a forced break, which was accompanied by a lot of reasons, some because of the uncertainty, and others due to natural reasons in terms of sustaining preparation for players.”
The 2019-2020 Premier League season was suspended in March and later cancelled after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Jamaica. The organisers had earmarked a November start date for the new campaign.