MBU boss happy with progress despite trophyless season

DESPITE ENDING the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season without a trophy, Montego Bay United (MBU) chairman Yoni Epstein is happy with the progress since his team took charge of the club two years ago.

MBU (75 points) ended the season fourth, falling one place from their regular season third-place finish after losing 2-1 on aggregate to Mount Pleasant in the semi-finals and 4-2 in the third-place playoff to Arnett Gardens.

The loss to Arnett meant that it was the Junglists who earned a spot in the Caribbean Football Union Caribbean Club Shield and a second bite at qualifying for the Concacaf Caribbean Cup.

Arnett won the Club Shield last year.

“While I would always want more, and I think we had a good squad to achieve that, we have to be thankful for how the season ended,” Epstein told The Gleaner.

“When I think of the last two seasons since we have taken over and where the club is coming from, it is definitely another achievement and a feather in our cap,” said Epstein.

The season up until the playoffs wasn’t all smooth sailing though, with MBU ending its contract with Argentinian Rodolfo Zapata after seven months in charge, raising questions about how the team would adjust to a new coach and if they could maintain their spot in the playoffs despite the change.

Welcome Montego Bay hero, former Reggae Boy, player at Seba (now MBU), and former coach, Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis.

After a few hiccups, Davis got the team winning again, and they looked a real threat to the title hopes of the other five teams in the playoffs.

“If I look at the data, our success as a team got better after. Wins, losses, draws, the amount of goals we scored versus those against us, that last run when the new coaching staff took over, we scored far more goals and had far less goals scored on us,” said Epstein.

Still, Epstein says the club will not be resting on its laurels in the off-season, knowing all too well that for it to achieve its goals, there will need to be improvements.

“In the summer, we need to look to add some players that are going to bring that level of quality into the squad. We need to take a holistic approach on how our mix of players are. The older experience to the young players and see how we can start to infuse more of the youngsters that are at MBU.

“While we are proud, there is a lot to expect coming into the new season,” said Epstein.

Just a point shy from achieving their goal, which was to finish in the top two at the end of the regular season, Epstein is satisfied with making it to the semi-finals.

“While we didn’t achieve the goal, we achieved making the semi-finals, which is a big thing for the club. It is the first time in nine years since that happened.”

The improvement in MBU’s performances this season saw them bring fans back to the pitch in droves, one of those fans, who has been around for the lean years, Lorna Findlay, is excited to see what has been happening with the team.

“MBU really brought back life to the Second City. I have been a supporter since Seba days. Seeing them advance to playoffs and semi-finals made me proud.”

Source: Jamaica Gleaner: Ashley Anguin