Clubs still anxious for Jamaica Premier League start

Harbour View FC General Manager Clyde Jureidini says they are still clinging on to hopes that the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) will still happen this season.

The JPL, which usually starts in September, has been delayed because no government approval has been given for its start. The Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) has made several attempts to get the league started, but its safety protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic have been turned down by the Government on a number of occasions.

Biosecure environments

PFJL Chairman Christopher Williams said in a recent interview that under the guidance of Dr Akshai Mansingh, who has worked with Cricket West Indies to facilitate its Test series played in biosecure environments since last year, they have created and submitted two options under which the competition could be staged and they hope to convince the Government that they can have the league in a safe environment.

"We are hopeful that the authorities will grant the approval and permission to have a limited game format of about 85 games in the back end of the season between June 1 and August 30," Jureidini said.

"But it has been delayed so long, we are unsure, but I think that they will soon reach a definitive solution one way or the other in the next week or two.

"I think like they did for Champs, hopefully, there will be a favourable response to the bubble effect or to call early and to plan forward for a full and proper season resuming on September 1 for the 2021-22 season."

Jureidini says that the delay of the season has made club personnel tired and frustrated.

"It is definitely frustrating for everybody, of course the players first and foremost, the coaches and management staff," he said. "But we are crossing our fingers and hoping to get even a short season and then get back to a full season in early September."

Molynes United President Herman Cruickshank said his club is desperate for the league to go ahead this season and his players are hopeful that they will win some football this season.

"I am hopeful that they are going to have some football this season because football is playing all over the globe," he said.

"I just want them to give us a start date because if they give a date we can use this date to start a new season and to show off our product to the world.

"We have had a meeting with them and they told us to go back and fine-tune a few areas and come back."