Mount Pleasant to use Caribbean Cup for relief aid

WHEN MOUNT Pleasant Football Academy play their second-leg Concacaf Caribbean Cup semifinal against Defence Force of Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, winning will be just part of the equation.

The club has announced that the game, they lead 5-1 from the first leg in Trinidad just about two weeks ago, will serve the dual function of raising funds for the relief efforts the western end of the island is desperately in need of following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

“This game is no longer about making a final, it is about building back Jamaica and giving persons one night to take their mind off the devastation we are enduring,” read a release from Mount Pleasant on their Instagram page yesterday.

The club will be putting in place a facility for persons attending the match to donate food, water, clothing and other items to help the effort.

Two clubs, which play in the Jamaica Premier League along with Mount Pleasant, Montego Bay United and Treasure Beach Football Club, were significantly affected by the passage of Melissa, with the coach of the latter, Kemar Ricketts, citing complete devastation.

“We’re completely devastated and the community, by extension, has been destroyed,” Ricketts told The Gleaner.

With players having to dorm at the Treasure Beach facility because of its remote nature, the problems have been significant.

According to Ricketts, the normal support to players who live and train at the club, has been eradicated with the complete destruction of the neighbouring Black River community.

There is still no news about the impact on Montego Bay United, although images from the Montego Bay Sports Complex paint a grim picture.

The property is completely inundated and will take some time before games can even be considered there. Training is also out of the question, suggesting the two clubs will be unable to take part in the JPL anytime soon.

Mount Pleasant are also urging persons to make financial donations, instructions for which can be found at https://supportjamaica.gov.jm.