Picking up the pieces

MONTEGO BAY United (MBU) head coach Xavier Gilbert says the club is now in the process of picking up the pieces following the devastating passage of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, which severely impacted western Jamaica last Tuesday.

Gilbert said players and staff members suffered significant personal damage, but the club remains united in its efforts to recover from the disaster.

“It is a difficult period for the club itself, players, staff have been affected severely but we are united, we are sticking together and we are helping each other,” said Gilbert.

“It is a difficult period just connectivity and even just communication wise, but we are trying and we are trying our best to ensure that we stick together and hopefully it doesn’t affect us on the field of play, which is the most challenging part.”

He noted that while the road to recovery will be challenging, MBU’s focus is on rebuilding as quickly as possible.

“But it is a tough one and it is something that we have to deal with and we are going to try as best as possible to deal with it as quickly as possible, but it is a challenging period for the community, players, staff and fans on a whole. It is very rough,” Gilbert stated.

MBU lead the Jamaica Premier League standings with 22 points from nine matches, ahead of Portmore United (18 points) and Racing United (15 points). Defending champions Cavalier sit fourth on 13 points.

Gilbert underscored that several members of the MBU family have been severely affected.

“Players and staff have gotten significant damage to their home. Some losing parts of their homes, some who have had livestock as well have suffered some damage in that regard as well,” he said.

“It is going to be difficult for us whenever the competition restarts, but we have to do what we can to help each other out to ensure that the off-field challenges do not affect us on the field too much, which is going to be difficult, and that will be the most challenging thing.”

Gilbert highlighted that the city remains without key amenities, adding that the situation is taking a toll on everyone involved.

“The city is without electricity and water and connectivity and so it is extremely rough for us and these are persons with families,” Gilbert said.

Montego Bay United have seven overseas-based players on their roster, including four from Trinidad and Tobago, one Haitian, a Brazilian, and an England-born player. Gilbert pointed out that they, too, have been affected by the storm’s aftermath.

“We have players from overseas and they also have communication issues because their relatives abroad are having challenges getting in touch with them and that is also setting some discomfort for them, but we are trying to fix or to better the circumstances,” he said.