Waterhouse prepared to play shortened Premier League season
As the battle rages on about whether it still makes sense to try and squeeze in a premier league season this term, Waterhouse FC Head Coach Marcel Gayle says that his club is ready and willing to play.
The Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) is desperate to have the season go ahead, even if it would mean only one round of games and then the play-offs. But while some see this as not enough, for Gayle any amount of football is better than none at all.
“It might not be as wide scale as possible, like the seven months or the 11 months, but a month or two will still go a far way, because families depend on this. Even if it’s small, it goes a far way with (players’) families.”
Gayle says that there is a heavy dependence on the playing of the league by the players to earn, and the communities themselves want to see football played.
“It’s a sticky situation. I don’t want to put my foot in my mouth, but I know that we are depending solely on this. The competition, we look forward to it. Even when I walk in the community people stop me and they share their sentiments, what they feel about the football,” he said.
The Waterhouse native believes that as long as all precautions are taken, then the playing of the premier league should go ahead this season.
“I always say football must be the winner at the end of the day. If there is no life lost and we can have it in a comfortable area that nobody’s life is at risk, I am all for that. But if it’s going to put people’s lives at risk, we would have to abandon it. But as long as we can earn from it, people can live in a sterilised area, I think we can do it. We adjust to circumstances.”
Gayle is also hopeful that the recent measures put in place by the Government to combat the spread of COVID-19 will bear fruit quickly.
“The first lockdown of the country was last weekend. I would love to hear the results of it. I know that if we social distance and keep wearing our masks, I think normality can come soon.”
And even while the country awaits the return of local competition, Waterhouse FC has been busy preparing for Caribbean competition.
“The Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championships is coming in May, so we have started training. We are adhering to the rules and the guidelines of 10 at training and we are trying to do it as best as possible. It’s not a suitable environment but we are adjusting to it,” he said.
Waterhouse FC and Portmore United FC will represent Jamaica at this competition, this year.
