Coaches Bernard, Davis back vaccine mandate for JPL

Harbour View head coach Ludlow Bernard and Arnett Gardens head coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis are both in support of the enforcement of the vaccination mandate for the Jamaica Premier League this season.

Their comments come as last Saturday's game between Tivoli Gardens and Vere United was postponed because of what has been described as a health compliance issue. However, STAR Sports understands that the health compliance issue in question was that one of the teams did not have members of their delegation fully vaccinated.

The second game of the doubleheader between Harbour View and Arnett Gardens went ahead and Bernard said that given the current health situation, he supports the enforcement of the policy saying that it is important for the league's continuation this season.

"I don't have a problem. If that's the rule then that's the rule and it needs to be instituted. So we have to conform," Bernard said.

Davis shared similar sentiments saying that it was irresponsible for persons not to be inoculated with the season already in full swing.

"You can't have players going on the field and they are not vaccinated. If this is the rule then they should abide by it. It's not just Jamaica alone it's all over the world," Davis said.

While not confirming that a vaccination breach was the reason why the match was rescheduled Professional Football Jamaica Limited chairman Christopher Williams said that the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has made it clear regarding the requirements to execute the 2022 season

'The JFF had said 100 per cent vaccination so we are not going to play any games if that is not the case. That's the JFF's policy and we have to be guided by that," Williams said.

STAR Sports tried to find out the official reason for the postponement of the Tivoli Gardens versus Vere United match but calls to JFF competitions chairman Gregory Daley went unanswered.