CHAMPIONS Cavalier FC will start the defence of their Jamaica Premier League title, hosting Harbour View, while Mount Pleasant tackle Montego Bay United in an enticing north coast derby as the 2025-26 season kicks off on Sunday with five games.

Cavalier and Harbour View will meet in the feature game of the double-header at Stadium East at 6:30 pm while Molynes United tackle Waterhouse FC at 4:00 pm.

Mount Pleasant FA welcome Montego Bay United to Drax Hall for a 3:00 pm showdown while Tivoli Gardens travel to Turners Oval to face the Chapelton Maroons.

It will be a clash between the newly promoted teams Treasure Beach FC and Spanish Town Police FC at the St Elizabeth Technical High School Sports Complex at 3:00 pm.

On Monday, in another double-header at Stadium East, Dunbeholden FC take on Portmore United while Arnett Gardens tackle Racing United.

With the usual plethora of transfers of players coming and going, Mount Pleasant has once again stolen the show, acquiring top marksman Warner Brown from Arnett Gardens in what many consider the transfer of the season.

Cavalier have lost their spine, losing top defender and Captain Richard King, Dwayne Atkinson, and Jalmaro Calvin to overseas clubs.

Then there are the coaching moves as Donovan Duckie is back as the Phoenix Group-acquired Chapelton Maroons. Xavier Gilbert has moved from Arnett Gardens to Montego Bay United, and Bygeon Thomas has taken over at Harbour View.

Philip Williams starts his first season in the hot seat at Arnett Gardens after leaving Tivoli Gardens, while veteran Bradley Stewart returns to local football at the promoted Spanish Town FC but faces issues by not having the required D Licence to coach from the bench.

In what is expected to be another fascinating season, eyes quickly turn to two games involving recent champions and last season’s fourth-placed team.

Champions Cavalier take on 2022 champions Harbour View, and Technical Director Rudolph Speid says losing 12 players means his team is once again rebuilding.

“We have had five wonderful years winning three times, second once, and third once,” Speid says. “So, this year is a rebuilding year. We know that we have to rebuild at some point because we’d have only had three or four players left from that team that won in 2020-21.

“So clearly, I mean, this year alone when we lost 12 players after the championship for different reasons, so we’re really in our rebuilding phase. It’s something that I know is going to happen but we’ll pick up as the days go by.

“But we’re excited. We have some young players who have said, ‘Listen, those stars are not here any more.’ ”

For Thomas of Harbour View, a new journey begins for him but the aim is the same.

“We are starting with the champions, which will be a very difficult game, but you can expect the team to give 100 per cent,” he says. We are putting in the work and we are ready. Just like any other game, we’re trying to get three points.”

Drax Hall should be buzzing with excitement as second-placed Mount Pleasant and fourth-placed Montego Bay do battle.

It’s a clash between two genuine title contenders, and Mount Pleasant’s Coach Theodore Whitmore is looking towards the challenge.

“It’s the start of the competition and we know it’s gonna be a tough game playing against the Montego Bay aggregation, and we welcome them and look forward to the game,” Whitmore says. “We treat every game as a derby or final, and this game is no different.”

Gilbert, who has replaced Paul Davis at Montego Bay, says it will be a tough and entertaining game.

“The north coast derby is going to be a tough encounter, for sure, but we want it to be exciting for the fans and, hopefully, we can put on a good showing and get something from the game. That’s our plan — not to leave St Ann empty-handed,” Gilbert says.

“They are ahead of us in terms of preparation as they had an official game under their belt in the Caribbean Cup Championship, but we just have to come out and do what we have to do to ensure we get something from the game.”

Jalmaro Calvin (centre) of Cavalier is congratulated by Vino Barclett (right) and his teammates after scoring the second goal for his team in their Jamaica Premier League match against Vere Phoenix, played at Sabina Park on Sunday, November 10, 2024.

WHITMORE…we treat every game as a derby or final, and this game is no different