After missing out on the play-offs of the Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL) last season, Chairman of Montego Bay United (MBU) Yoni Epstein says he’s confident that similar mistakes will be avoided ahead of the start of the new campaign.

The St James-based club will head to Clarendon on Sunday for their opening fixture as they battle Craig Butler’s Vere Phoenix United at the Wembley Centre of Excellence at 3:00 pm.

The four-time champions, who last won the league in 2016, were relegated in the 2018/2019 season for the first time in their history, but since their return to the league in 2022, they haven’t finished in a coveted top six spot in the last three seasons.

They narrowly missed out last season, finishing seventh with 43 points, the same as Waterhouse but with an inferior goal difference.

Epstein, who took control of MBU last season, says his second season overseeing the cub will be far greater, telling the Jamaica Observer that their preseason was properly executed.

“Last year was the first year of the new administration; we took over the team just before the start of the league. There was little work done in the offseason so we took on a team that was there from a prior season, came 10th prior season, and scored 26 points. From there we recognised we needed to prop up the squad and we made a very strong run and missed the play-offs by goal difference,” he said.

“We have prepared ourselves on the field during preseason.We’ve prepared ourselves in the boardroom by ensuring we effectively ran a strong transfer window in the summer to be able to prop up our squad and make it not only competitive but also add significant depth, because we’re going to a prolonged season. So we’re very content with what we’ve been able to achieve in the offseason, and our preparations have put us in a stronger position than the start of last season and now it’s down to the boys to execute on the field,” he shared.

Argentine Rodolfo Zapata will take charge as head coach of the team this season, replacing fellow South American Neider Dos Santos of Brazil, who left at the end of last season. The club has also added more players to their ranks with the signings of Reggae Boyz and JPL champions Demario Phillips and Shaniel Thomas.

Epstein is confident Zapata will make his mark throughout the season.

“The interactions so far have been great. He’s new to the Premier League so he’s had to do extensive work, watching as much video as possible to prepare for his opponents. But I really appreciate his style of play that I’ve been able to watch during preseason. I appreciate his approach to training, discipline, and motivating the squad. I have a lot of support and hope that he will do well and hopefully the team will execute and do well,” he said.

While the goal is to eventually win the JPL title, Epstein says youth development is a key objective in the coming years.

“By developing talent from the grass-roots level all the way through the high school level, matriculating into the MBU squad is the path to seeing not one or two but multiple players getting opportunities abroad. That is the business model, and it’s our duty as the custodians of the club to execute on that and that’s been my driver from day one,” said Epstein.

Montego Bay United’s Owayne Gordon (right) takes on Tivoli Gardens FC’s Nathan Thomas during the Jamaica Premier League match at Montego Bay Sports Complex in St James on Sunday April 7, 2024. (Photo: Paul Reid)