Members of the Montego Bay United (MBU) football club say that while they grapple with an extended period of uncertainty surrounding the resumption of crucial football matches, they are using this period to grow even stronger as a unit.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Head Coach Xavier Gilbert says that while the team faces tremendous adversity in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, including a pitch now inundated with mud, the mental and physical health of team members is the top priority.

“I’m sure everyone would have seen the extent of the damage at Catherine Hall Stadium, so it goes without saying that resuming home matches in the immediate future will be a challenge,” he said. “But that’s not our main focus right now. We haven’t even resumed training yet. We’re still trying to get in touch with players who would have gone home to be with their families and have now been cut off because of communication challenges. A lot of us remain uneasy because we haven’t heard from them, and so making contact is our main focus at present.”

Indicating that he’d rather focus on things he can control, Gilbert says he’s hoping to establish a line of communication with his entire team by the weekend as they hope to at least resume training in the short term.

“We’re hoping to resume training at some point, but right now we’re cleaning and taking care of our families. We also want to assess how we can help players who were badly affected by the storm because we are a closely knit group and we just want to pull through together,” he said. “Hopefully, this makes us stronger so that when the league resumes, we’ll be ready and unbeatable.”

The past two weeks have seen some 14 games postponed due to Hurricane Melissa, and according to Professional Football Jamaica Chief Executive Officer Owen Hill, the figure could rise as restarting the league isn’t top of the agenda. He says offering support to the clubs is the focus.

Speaking of support, Alwayne Wright, field technician for MBU, said members of the team who were housed on a property in the vicinity of Dead End Beach in Montego Bay are seeking new accommodations as a section of the building collapsed when Melissa tore through St James.

“There were about 20 of us here during the storm, and it was a very horrific experience. I have been in various storms, but this is the worst I have ever experienced. When the entire top floor of the building came off and the wind started howling, it was scary,” he said. Wright said while several members managed to journey out of the parish post-storm, he and about six others are still at Dead End as they have no funds to make the trek home.

“I am short on fare to go home, and I live in St Catherine, so I’m still here along with a few others. Right now we need basic items, water and food. We’re not even focusing on football right now, we’re just trying to cope with day-to-day needs. We’re at Dead End on Kent Avenue, if anyone wants to assist.”

A shot of the destruction left behind by Hurricane Melissa at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in St James. (Photo: Karl McLarty)

The playing surface at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in St James is now covered in mud after the passing of Hurricane Melissa last week. (Photo: Karl McLarty)

GILBERT…hopefully, this makes us stronger so that when the league resumes, we’ll be ready and unbeatable.