Paul Christie, sporting director of Mount Pleasant Football Academy, says that while the club is concerned about its poor start to the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season, there is no panic within the organisation, as it remains confident of turning its fortunes around quickly.
Mount Pleasant, among the favourites to win this season’s competition, are winless after two matches and have yet to score a goal.
Their latest defeat came on Sunday when they were beaten 1-0 by Racing United at Ferdi Neita Park. That followed a 4-0 loss to promoted side Tru-Juice in their opening match the previous Sunday.
The St Ann-based club currently sit at the foot of the standings, but Christie said there is no reason for alarm with 40 matches still to be played.
“The Mount Pleasant Football Academy is aware that we haven’t scored as yet, but we are also aware that we have 40 more games to play, so we are having a few concerns, yes,” said Christie.
“But are we panicking? Absolutely not. So we are totally aware of what is happening, and we have been proactive and we have been putting things in place.”
Team chemistry
He added that the introduction of several new players has affected the team’s chemistry, particularly in attack, but expects those issues to be resolved soon.
“When you add a few new pieces, these things will happen every now and then, and we understand that and we are ironing out the chemistry of the front line, and so we should be okay,” Christie said.
Mount Pleasant have also struggled to find the net in the Caribbean Cup, and Christie noted that the club is working to improve its finishing.
“We have not converted and we are aware of that. It has happened in the Caribbean Cup and it is now happening in the JPL and we are totally aware of that, so we are putting in the work to get over that situation,” he said.
“So what we are doing now is that we are working on finding a way to win. So what the table is looking like now is okay. But what is not okay is not to be there, and we are looking at the table as we speak ,and so we will see an improvement in very short order,” Christie added.
Despite the slow start, Christie pointed out that the club remains fully supportive of head coach Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore and his technical staff.
“We continue to trust the judgement and technical ability of Theodore Whitmore and the ownership does as well,” Christie said.
Mount Pleasant are also balancing their domestic campaign with Caribbean Cup commitments. They are currently in the semi-finals of the competition and are scheduled to face Trinidad and Tobago’s Club Sando in the first leg on October 14.
“We are not in the business of giving excuses, but there might be a case for that. However, this is happening all over Europe, and so if you want to be in the Caribbean Cup and you want to compete in multiple competitions, then you have to be able to switch from one to the other and replicate the performance and adjust accordingly, and we have not been doing that very well,” he said.
“It is part of the growth and development of the club, but we will adjust and get it right and get it together.”
