WHILE Molynes United may not have been among the clubs most severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa, Head Coach Jermaine Thomas says they’re working hard to overcome the financial and psychological issues they’ve been facing.

The Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League’s (JPL) six-week hiatus will end on Sunday with five games, including the Molynes United clash with Racing United at Stadium East.

There’s been no action on the field since October 20 due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa whose strong winds and rains resulted in mass destruction across the island, particularly in the western and southern regions. Leaders Montego Bay United of St James and Treasure Beach FC of St Elizabeth were the two most-affected clubs, with the latter being granted additional time until December 21 to recover and prepare for the resumption.

Clubs in the urban area were mostly spared from the hurricane’s impact. However, the JPL’s halt resulted in further significant challenges, including for Molynes.

“Most of the clubs that I know in Jamaica were having financial difficulties before the hurricane,” Thomas told the Sunday Observer. “So with the hurricane come and gone, then I’m thinking that it would have gotten worse because you’re not playing and then you still have to find salaries for your players, and if you’re training you would have to find stuff — and that costs money and all of that.”

Although fully backing the relief efforts by the Government and other stakeholders, Thomas says financial support is even harder to come by.

“It is not easy overall because the country is now focusing on rehabilitating — focusing on getting the western side of the island back up and running — so most of the resources are pointed to one direction, and it’s kind of hard to find assistance,” he said.

“We weren’t being affected directly or would not have seen significant damage but we would have had players and also staff with minor or moderate damage. But, we are still grateful because it could have been worse. So it is still difficult, still hard right around, because what is going on now in Jamaica affects everybody directly or indirectly.”

Thomas has also had to deal with the mental challenges due to the disaster, post-hurricane, and the league’s unsure future.

“It takes a whole lot out of the staff at Molynes — including myself as a coach — because it requires a lot of psychological help, constant dialogue, and constant communication,” he said.

However, with the JPL set to return to full swing, Thomas says life has been a little easier.

“I was happy when they announced the date for the premier league as well because persons were still in limbo because for most of our players, they’ll be earning their only salary from the club,” he said.

“That would have been their only salary, and if the clubs are not playing, if revenues are not coming in, then there won’t be money to pay these players. So, a lot of players were kind of on and off and disturbed a little bit psychologically but when they heard the date, it was easier; and they were a lot more motivated as well in training, so that made things a little bit different.”

Molynes, who have yet to register a win this season, will be looking to climb up the table as they sit in 13th on five points after eight games. They will also be without their captain, Jason Wright, who signed for Chapelton Maroons after the expiration of his contract.