DESPITE seeing Vere Phoenix United’s winless slump in the Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League extend to eight games, Head Coach Lenworth Hyde and Technical Director Craig Butler are confident the team will climb out of the relegation zone.

Vere were held to a 1-1 result by Chapelton Maroons in the Clarendon Derby at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Sunday.

Vere thought they were on the way to their first win in over a month after Denzel McKenzie’s goal in the 15th minute. However, Andrew Vanzie’s stunning free kick in the second minute of stoppage time snatched a point for Chapelton.

The draw means Vere remain in 13th on 19 points, with just one win in their last 11 games.

Hyde, though, says he’s seen an improvement in the team which he believes will move them up the table.

“We’re getting our act together; it’s kinda tough but we’re persevering. We’re working hard, we’ve stepped up the discipline in the team, hence we’ve been looking better for the past three games. We just have to continue to fight hard and maintain our discipline on the pitch,” he said.

“My team is a very young team in the league. We have players that are just playing in the league so it’s taking us some time to get that chemistry going, but the last three games we’ve been seeing some improvement and how we train so it’s only going to get better,” Hyde added.

Butler says the players’ development will lead to greater results.

“We’re optimists but we have a lot of youth on our side and the boys are now adapting to the premier league and playing ‘big man football’. The leaders in our team are getting fitter and stronger and better roles in the team,” he said.

“We’re not going to let these young boys grow up to be the 30-year-olds of the premier league that are not professionals. We want them to grow up and be the Leon Baileys and Dujuan ‘Whisper’ Richards of this world, so we have to set the pace for them, give them the exposure. I think we’re going to move up this table soon and win more games,” added Butler.

Although coming away with a point, Chapelton Head Coach Jermaine Douglas was unhappy with his team’s mental approach.

“There’s an issue in terms of belief. I don’t think it’s just down to concentration — it’s about believing that when you’re playing against these teams that you’re just as good or even better. I don’t think the players believed that today; we were playing like a team chasing Vere,” he said.

Chapelton, who are winless in their last four encounters, remain 11th on 22 points, just three points outside the drop zone.

Douglas said quick adjustments are needed in order to keep their spot in the JPL.

“The main objective is to ensure that this team is still in the league come next season. Over the last two games we’ve dropped four points because we could have won both games. It’s a cutting edge [that’s] missing from the players in the final third so if we’re not converting chances and continue to concede, it’s going to be difficult to win many games, so we have to fix that,” Douglas said.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS
Chapelton 1, Vere 1
Molynes 0, Cavalier 3
Harbour View 0, Arnett Gardens 1
Dunbeholden 1, Waterhouse 0
Racing United 1, Portmore 1

MONDAY’S GAMES
5:00 pm – Mount Pleasant vs Humble Lion @ Montego Bay Sports Complex
7:30 pm – Montego Bay vs Tivoli Gardens @ Montego Bay Sports Complex