‘The players know this is their time’

PAUL ‘TEGAT’ Davis, a man who knows what it takes to win the Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL) with Montego Bay United (MBU) both as a player and a coach, is on a mission to restore not just his club’s former glory, but also the pride of western Jamaica, once a powerhouse of local football.

Clubs such as MBU (then Seba United), Violet Kickers, and Reno were once regular contenders for national titles. Today, MBU stands alone as the region’s last top-flight representative, bearing the hopes of a community that once dominated Jamaica’s football landscape.

Davis was thrust into the role of head coach late in the second round of the season, following the abrupt departure of his predecessor, Rodolfo Zapata. Davis previously led MBU to JPL glory nine years ago and understands better than most what is required to reclaim that success.

On Monday night, Davis moved one step closer to that goal with a 3–2 aggregate win over Tivoli Gardens – a 1–1 draw in the second leg, enough to secure MBU’s first semi-final berth since 2016.

Montego Bay United will now face regular season champions Mount Pleasant Football Academy in the first leg of the semi-final at Catherine Hall Stadium tonight at 8:30.

THREE victories

Mount Pleasant have got the better of MBU this season, recording a 3–0 win, a 1–1 draw, and a 2–0 victory in their three encounters.

While the statistics don’t favour the western side, Davis insists the past is behind them, and his team is focused solely on tonight.

Despite progressing, Davis was left frustrated by aspects of his team’s quarter-final performance and is demanding immediate improvements.

“I’m disappointed that we conceded against nine men,” he said on Monday evening. “We didn’t control the game, and when you don’t control the game, that’s what happens.

“Tactically, we got it right in the first half. We moved the ball well and did what we set out to do. We controlled the game.”

Looking ahead to the semi-final, Davis is urging his senior players to rise to the occasion.

“We have to improve against Mount Pleasant. You can’t make certain mistakes against a team of that calibre.

“It’s great to have Brian Brown back and on the score sheet. The players know this is their time. They are big players, and they have to step up. I’m happy to see him back, and scoring will boost his confidence.”

With matches coming in quick succession, Davis isn’t dwelling on fatigue.

“This is what we’ve prepared for. Big players need to step up. You can’t control everything, so we just have to deal with it.”

He also issued a rallying cry to supporters across western Jamaica.

“It’s been a while since we last won the league, and it’s great to be back in the semi-finals. The players need to understand what this means, not just for them, but for the entire west.

“Come out in your numbers. Wear your colours. I’m tired of seeing white, pink, and grey; want to see red and green. Outnumber them! We need to drown out the blue and white. We need our fans to lift us up. We’re playing for you,” he declared.