Fri | Mar 29, 2024

PFJL promises heightened security at Sabina after changing room break-in

Published:Monday | May 29, 2023 | 12:59 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Jeovanni Laing (right) of Cavalier tackles Lamar Walker of Portmore United during the Lynk Cup final at Sabina Park, South Camp Road, Kingston, last Friday. Portmore won 2-0.
Jeovanni Laing (right) of Cavalier tackles Lamar Walker of Portmore United during the Lynk Cup final at Sabina Park, South Camp Road, Kingston, last Friday. Portmore won 2-0.
Professional Football Jamaica Limited’s CEO, Owen Hill.
Professional Football Jamaica Limited’s CEO, Owen Hill.
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Following the theft of valuables from the Cavalier changing room at Sabina Park during the Lynk Cup final against Portmore last Friday, Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) CEO Owen Hill has assured teams that security will be heightened at...

Following the theft of valuables from the Cavalier changing room at Sabina Park during the Lynk Cup final against Portmore last Friday, Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) CEO Owen Hill has assured teams that security will be heightened at the venue for the semi-finals and the remainder of the Jamaica Premier League season and that there will be zero tolerance on measures they have enacted.

According to Cavalier boss Rudolph Speid, his players lost over $2.3 million in valuables, and in condemning the incident, Hill revealed that not only woud there be increased security presence, but changing rooms would be guarded by police personnel and only accredited persons would be allowed in sterile areas.

“We are gutted by the whole incident. It is a difficult one to truly process. It puts a stain on our national domestic cup, which we are happy is back.

“However, going forward, corrective measures are going to be put in place for games held at Sabina Park,” he declared.

“ So come tomorrow (Monday), you are going to see some improved measures. The teams have been advised.

“Police will now be assigned to all four changing rooms, and we will ensure that the sterile areas are kept sterile outside of accredited personnel, team members, etc. No one will be facilitated, and there will be zero tolerance with the policies that we will be enforcing.”

Speid revealed that his players would be reimbursed for their losses.

“Many of the players have lost IPhones, some costing as much as $200,000 and over. Some lost cash because the players had just received their pay. So everything came to about $2.3 million. These players work for Cavalier, so we will have to help find it back,” he said.

He said they haven’t made their findings known to the organisers as yet but that they were looking at all possible solutions.

“We haven’t sent the list to them (organiser). We are just gathering the costing and trying to see how best we can deal with it,” he stated.

Hill said they are having discussions to see if any assistance could be rendered to Cavalier and their players.

“Those are internal discussions that are happening. There is no commitment. We are reviewing how we can possibly assist with key partners.

“First, we have to verify the valuables that were lost and to find a course of action if at all any assistance can be provided,” he stated.

Hill added that it was a learning moment for the PFJL team and why they would take all aspects of security very seriously from here on.

“We can take some learning from this. We have been aware of these kinds of incidents. It is a broader cultural issue that we just need to be cognisant of, but we are definitely taking every step to ensure that the patrons, the players, and officials are safe,” Hill said.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com