Prison Oval failure hurts JPL newcomers

WHEN SPANISH Town Police play their first home game in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) this season, they will not do so from the comfort of their customary home ground, the Spanish Town Prison Oval, because the field at the venue failed to meet the competition’s standards.

As a result, the JPL debutants will have to play their home matches at Dunbeholden football field.

Technical director Howard Dyer believes this will make their introduction to top-flight football that more difficult.

“The main thing now is that the field that we are supposed to use, the Spanish Town Prison Oval, which is our regular home ground and the field that we are used to, they say it’s not ready to play on.

“So we had to get a next field, and we eventually got Dunbeholden. But it is not the best for us. But what to do?” he said.

“It is going to be like every match is an away match. All our supporters will not really get to come because it is at Dunbeholden.

“A lot of people who could just come across the road and watch the games will be out. So the support is going to go down to a minimum, but we just know that we have to do what we have to do.”

He noted that they are talking with the St Catherine Football Association, which oversee the running of the football facility, and they are hopeful that they will get an opportunity to play in front of their regular home crowd before the season concludes.

“We are talking to the FA to make sure the field gets ready even if by halfway the season. We are trying our best, but I can’t say how things will work out at this time.

“But we are praying, and irrespective of what, we will have to stand up. It will affect us in some ways, but we are police, so we have to show our resolve and do what we have to,” he said.

Dyer admits that preparing for top-flight football is a difficult and expensive challenge and that they have made mistakes and have learned from them.

Nevertheless, he thinks they have put most of the requirements in place although there are still contractual issues to address with players.

“So far, we have put everything in place so we can play the league. But things are very tight now. We have to have a physical trainer. We have to have an A coach and B coach. So its a lot of things we have put in place so we can play the league.

“But the contracts for the players are not ready yet. But we talked with them and let them know what it is. We will not tell them $10 if is only a dollar you can afford. That will not make it.

“But it is our first experience in the league, and we have made mistakes - a lot of them - but we have tried to correct them and push forward. Its a learning process for us, and we are taking one step at a time,” he added.