MARQUEE off season addition Alex Marshall will return to his old stomping ground in one of the subplots for the opening weekend of Jamaica Premier League action, as last season’s beaten finalists Mount Pleasant travel to Portmore United in a contest that is expected to deliver fireworks.

One hundred and twenty days have passed since the Mount Pleasant faithful were forced to watch in agony as Cavalier celebrated title success in the final at the National Stadium.

Since then, Head Coach Theodore Whitmore was fired and rehired, his assistant Davion Ferguson was enticed away from today’s opponents, and Marshall along with a string of other big-name signings — such as Brazilian Claudio Ferreira from Montego Bay and defender Odean Pennycooke (Tivoli Gardens) — have been recruited for the St Ann-based team’s redemption campaign which gets underway in today’s 4pm start at Ferdie Neita Park.

Paul Christie, sporting director of Mount Pleasant, has expressed that they are looking forward to giving a good account of themselves against Portmore, adding that the spirit among the players has been positive.

“It is [a] work in progress, and we are preparing to just go out there and execute and to give the best representation of Mount Pleasant Academy,” said Christie. “The players are in good spirits and the coaching and management are also in good spirits, and we are just going to go out and give a good representation of ourselves on Sunday against Portmore United.”

Portmore United’s Melvin Doxilly (right) will come up against his former team, Mount Pleasant, in today’s Jamaica Premier League opener at Ferdie Neita Park. (Karl Mclarty)

Mount Pleasant, who are coached by former Reggae Boyz Head Coach Whitmore, last won the title in the 2022-2023 season, and Christie noted that their main aim this season is to return the trophy to their base in St Ann.

“The aim is to win the title and, in addition to that, we want to go as deep as we can in the Concacaf Club Championship. But, we all know that we have to take it one game at a time, and right now our total shift is to Portmore tomorrow [today],” he said.

Portmore United, who will be coached by former national player Rudolph Austin, reached the quarter-finals of last year competiton under former coach, Philip Williams.

The one-time giants, who have not tasted title success since the 2018-2019 season, have themselves been busy during the off season with a number of new signings, including Mount Pleasant’s Ramone Howell and Daniel Russell, exciting youngster Tarick Ximines, and St Lucian international Melvin Doxilly, who also represented Mount Pleasant.

With Mount Pleasant having already contesting two competitive matches over the past few weeks by way of their CFU Club Championship matches against Cavalier (lost 0-2) and Arnett Gardens (won 2-0), it should be interesting to see how well Portmore United — the most successful club in Jamaican top flight football with seven titles — match up to their opponents today.

In Sunday’s other matches, the Craig Butler era at Vere Phoenix United will get underway with the visit of the revitalised Montego Bay United at Wembley Centre, while Tivoli Gardens will face Molynes in the curtain-raiser of an Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex double-header that will see Arnett Gardens and Dunbeholden closing the show.

On Monday, Harbour View and Waterhouse will play promoted teams Chapelton Maroons and Racing United, respectively, in another Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex double-header.

Humble Lion’s match against Cavalier has been potponed due to the champions’ CFU Club Championship assignment against Haitian club Real Hope on Tuesday at Sabina Park.

Sunday’s matches

Vere Phoenix vs Montego Bay United at Wembley Centre of Excellence at 3:00 pm

Portmore United vs Mount Pleasant at Ferdie Neita Park at 4:00 pm

Tivoli Gardens vs Molynes United at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 5:00 pm

Arnett Gardens vs Dunbeholden at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 7:30 pm

Monday’s matches

Harbour View vs Chapelton Maroons at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 5:00 pm

Waterhouse vs Racing United at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 7:30 pm

Mount Pleasant newbie Alex Marshall (right) returns to Ferdie Neita Park to face his old team, Portmore United, today. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Vere Phoenix United’s co-owner Craig Butler will get his first taste of JPL action with his new club today against Montego Bay United.