THE two teams to be promoted to the 2026-27 Jamaica Premier League (JPL) will be decided this afternoon after the playing of the semi-final return legs of the Jamaica Football Championship.

The four semi-finalists have it all to play for after last Saturday’s first-leg matches between Reno FC and Tru-Juice and Humble Lion FC and Sakka Club Brown’s Town ended in goalless stalemates.

In today’s play-to-finish contests, extra time and penalties will be used if teams are not separated after 90 minutes. The finalists will replace Spanish Town Police FC and Harbour View FC who were relegated from the JPL.

Reno FC, former national club champions, will hope to return to the top league for the first time since they were relegated at the end of the 2011-2012 campaign.

Humble Lion FC are hoping to return to the JPL at the first time of asking after they were relegated at the climax of the 2024-25 season.

Tru Juice, who were semi-finalists in the 2022-23 season, have lost just once this season. They have scored a league-leading 42 goals and have conceded 11.

They play away to a Reno team that has failed on numerous attempts to get back to the top league, but is having its best season in the championship in years.

Reno’s tally of 21 goals is the least of the four semi-finalists. They were solid at the back, however, conceding only 10 goals, the same as Humble Lion. But Reno are expected to be tested by Tru Juice attack led by Curtel Lawes and Daniel Roberts.

Humble Lion had set their minds on returning to the JPL and have backed up their objectives by getting to the semi-finals and the visitors are expected to give the St Ann-based Sakka Club a good test.

Meanwhile, Progressive FC and Holland PYC have been relegated from the championship and will return to Major League next season after finishing at the foot of their respective zones.

— Paul A Reid

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Reno vs Tru-Juice @ Llandilo Complex

Sakka Club Brown’s Town vs Humble Lion @ Drax Hall

(Games to start at 3:00 pm)