Treasure Beach FC want more time to recover from illness
Published:Tuesday | July 26, 2022 | 12:08 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Kemar Ricketts, coach of Treasure Beach FC, is hoping the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) will give his players more time to recover from a viral illness which forced the postponement of their second-leg Tier Two semi-final against Chapelton on Sunday.
Ricketts said players started displaying flu-like symptoms last Monday and were given 10 days to recover by a doctor they visited last Wednesday. The match was rescheduled for tomorrow, but the Treasure Beach coach said they still needed more time to recover and wants another postponement.
Ricketts pointed out that based on medical advice, the date set by the JFF had come too soon.
“Realistically, I don’t think it is enough time. Some players are still feeling weak, although it comes down to the JFF.
“But we do not have any control over sickness and if we cannot play, we just can’t. So ahead of the game we will get a full evaluation, and then we will be advised afterwards as to whether we can proceed or not,” he stated.
The club’s medical report was due to reach the JFF office by 3 p.m. yesterday.
Ricketts said players are not the only ones affected, as team officials and family members have been hit by the illness.
“I am hoping the JFF considers this and make adjustments,” he said.
He added that there were suggestions that they had COVID-19, but insisted that wasn’t the case.
Recounting what happened, Ricketts said: “Last Monday, a couple of players were missing because they were feeling ill. One player did turn up, and after that it started to spread. On Tuesday and Wednesday, a few more fell ill.
COVID-19
“Few are minor, and not everyone ended up with the flu; some just had the cold. Some people suggested it was COVID-19, but we figured that the coronavirus could not spread that fast. The doctor ruled it a viral illness and we did an antigen test as a precaution,” he said.
A JFF release said the game was postponed tentatively until Wednesday (tomorrow) by the JFF’s Competitions Committee, following representation by Treasure Beach FC and their doctor that 12 players exhibited signs of a viral illness.
Meanwhile, Faulkland have advanced to the final and in the process qualified for next season’s Jamaica Premier League (JPL), after beating Falmouth 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw on Sunday.