ST JAMES, Jamaica — In addition to suffering setbacks caused by the passage of Hurricane Melissa in late October, former Jamaica Premier League champions Montego Bay United have sustained a rash of injuries that has resulted in a slow restart to their quest for top honours.

Montego Bay United led the competition at the enforced break that resulted from the hurricane but have slipped to second after winning just once in their four games since the resumption.

Those results included a narrow 1-0 win over Arnett Gardens FC; a 0-3 loss to champions Cavalier FC; a 4-4 draw with Harbour View FC against whom they twice gave up the lead; and a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Waterhouse FC.

The St James-based club, which will go into Sunday’s start of round two in second place in the 14-team league, is scheduled to host Mount Pleasant FA at Jarrett Park.

Nowhere is the team affected as much as in defence, where they have leaked eight goals in those four games.

First-year Head Coach Xavier Gilbert acknowledged the situation after the loss to visitors Waterhouse FC last Sunday.

“Yes, we are missing some players due to injury,” he said. “Our captain [Trinidad & Tobago central defender Josiah Trimmingham] had surgery in Trinidad, and we have a few people with other injuries, and we’ll just have to use what we have at this point in time.”

Montego Bay United started the season without their top scorer from last season, Shaniel Thomas, who was injured in a play-off game against Tivoli Gardens. Brian Brown, another top contributor from the last two seasons, was also still recovering from injury.

Gilbert chose to look at the positive side, however.

“It’s part of the game and it means everybody will get a chance to play, and I just hope they can make the best of it,” he reasoned.

Severe damage caused by Hurricane Melissa to the Montego Bay Sports Complex had forced the club to shift its training base to Kingston for a few weeks.

They were forced to return to play home games at Jarrett Park until the Montego Bay Sports Complex has been rehabilitated.

— Paul A Reid

Josiah Trimmingham of Montego Bay United (Photos: Observer file)

Montego Bay United’s Shaniel Thomas (left) and Harbour View’s Chidalu Chukwuemeka battle for the ball during the Jamaica Premier League football match at Harbour View Stadium on December 29, 2024.