MBU boss aiming for top two in 2024-25 JPL season

A bitter-sweet feeling is how chairman of Montego Bay United FC (MBU), Yoni Epstein, described the abrupt end to the season for his team at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay, on Sunday.

MBU, despite defeating Tivoli Gardens FC 2-1, failed to reach the playoffs as Waterhouse secured the final spot on goal difference ahead of the St James-based club. Both clubs ended on 43 points.

According to Epstein, the team is extremely proud of its achievements in their first season under new management.

"Next season we won't be fighting for top six. We we will be fighting for first and second place to get that bye into the semi-finals. We showed as a club that we certainly have the class to play, compete and beat the best in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL). As I said to the others on Sunday, we are one of the best teams in the league and we showed that in the second half this season," Epstein said.

MBU went on a five-game winning streak and went 10 matches unbeaten in the second half of the season.

Head coach Neider Dos Santos believes there was a huge improvement in the second round.

"The football we played in the second round is the kind of football a contender for the title should be playing. We became a team very difficult to beat, very confident and played very competitively. If we had qualified, I think we could have tried to fight for the title. You never know because each match is difficult but we had a chance.

"We strengthened in January to a much better squad. The point now is to strengthen the team even more to get a better squad with more options and do a good preseason for 2024-25," he added.

In January, seven additional players joined MBU for the second round of the JPL.

Jamaican players Owayne 'Turtle' Gordon, Jourdain Fletcher, Courtney Allen and Daniel Reid were among the new recruits. Gordon, like Fletcher, had played for Montego Bay before. The international players recruited were Gregson President - St Lucia; Josiah Trimmingham and Darnelll Hospedales - Trinidad and Tobago.

Meanwhile, Epstein told STAR Sports that he was satisfied with the work of the coaching staff.

"There are a lot of things to consider in the offseason. We have to continue building the foundation that we have started in the second half of the season. I think the coaching staff did what they could (with the players they had) in the first half of the season," Epstein said.