With no definite restart date for the Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL) due to the impact of Hurricane Melissa, stakeholders from several urban area clubs say they are in no particular to rush to return as they empathise with the difficult situation Montego Bay United (MBU) and Treasure Beach FC face.

It’s been just over a week since the category five hurricane caused mass devastation to the island, particularly to the western and southern parts. The Jamaica Observer understands that MBU of St James, and Treasure Beach of St Elizabeth were heavily affected with players and staff losing personal property including homes as well as damage to club assets.

The JPL is set to be postponed for the third week in a row with Professional Football Jamaica (PFJ) Chief Executive Officer Owen Hill telling the Observer that resuming isn’t an immediate consideration.

“We definitely know that the show will go on the road at some point. When is that point? I can’t give you a definite date,” he said. “Football will be played at some future point but right now we’re concerned about the mental and psychological well-being and then getting the infrastructure in place so that people’s lives and livelihoods actually get back to some sense of normalcy.”

There is a belief that the league can resume with the clubs in Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine, which have all resumed training, after avoided the major effects of the hurricane. However, the Observer understands that some players and staff of some of these clubs are hesitant to return as they or their families have been impacted by the hurricane.

One JPL club official told the Observer that a player narrowly escaped death after heavy winds and flooding overtook his home. The official says travel will be difficult due to the state of the roadways.

Harbour View FC Chairman Carvel Stewart said that resuming the JPL at the end of this month may be the best option.

“The league has a lot of players that come from Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, Hanover, St James and Trelawny, so those players would have been adversely affected,” he said. “They need another week or two in order to both mentally and physically re-establish themselves and I say this without knowing their individual circumstances.

“Concacaf is going to have to be patient with Jamaica in the circumstances because we can’t rush to finish when they want us to finish. Otherwise, we’re going to have people playing every two days and that kind of thing.”

However, Stewart says returning to the field of play is important to avoid a complete reset.

“I think we should have this weekend off and next weekend off so that people can reorganise and reassemble their staff and then we start up back before we get too cold and people get disinterested and things like that.”

Arnett Gardens FC head coach Philip Williams doesn’t have a timeline in mind but believes there should be no rush, especially for MBU and Treasure Beach.

“Football is something that really gets us together,” he said. “I remember in COVID, when we had back football, it was a different environment in terms of entertainment and community spirit, and so forth, so we’re definitely looking for a resumption soon but at the same time, there’s a humanitarian side of it where we know that the western side of the island was really affected.

“Those two clubs, Treasure Beach and Montego Bay, from what I heard, were really devastated. So we have to really think about the humanitarian side of it first and look out and try to rally around getting those players back together, mentally and otherwise, before we can even start thinking about the entertainment side of it. So whatever length of time that they need to get here, I will give it to them.”

MBU Head Coach Xavier Gilbert told the Observer on Tuesday that the club has yet to hear from some players due to the communication challenges caused by the hurricane. He, however, is hopeful to resume training soon.

It’s understood that Treasure Beach FC need a minimum of three weeks before returning to normalcy.

The Observer understands the PFJ will meet in the coming days to discuss the league’s restart.

Arnett Gardens Jamone Shepherd (left) and Harbour view Rohan Brown battle for possession in their Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League encounter at Waterhouse Stadium on September 7, 2025. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Harbour View FC Chairman Carvel StewartObserver file

Arnett Gardens FC head coach Philip Williams Garfield Robinson