MBU confident new arrivals will push team into top six

MONTEGO BAY United (MBU) are confident that the players they acquired this week will put the team in the top six in the second round of the 2023-2024 Wray & Nephew-sponsored Jamaica Premier League (JPL) competition.

One of the key players returning, homegrown top striker Owayne Gordon, believes that the team has the right mentality to move forward.

“As usual, once you come to MBU as a homegrown player, you are always expected to collect three points in matches. For us, we already have that mentality at the back of our heads. Whether the team is top or bottom, we have to show them that this is our home and we are here to serve and protect what is ours,” Gordon said.

Gordon has been away for seven years and, most recently, he played for the Richmond Kickers in the USL Championship in the United States. He stated that his heart has always been with MBU and there is no place like home.

“It’s like being away from family for a long time and I just wanted to be back close to family and friends. It’s home and, you know, my family is here. So why not?” Gordon said.

According to Neider Dos Santos, head coach of MBU, the team’s target is to do much better in the second round. “I believe that the players coming in have the quality and experience to give the team better performances and very good results,” Dos Santos said.

According to Gordon, it is good to be reunited with his old coach, who is tough and wants to get the very best from the players. During his time at MBU, the former national player was the top goalscorer when they won two JPL titles.

EXPECTATION

Dos Santos stated that Gordon is expected to display the quality football he learned while playing overseas.

“I think he is a much better player than he was 12 years ago when I first knew him. I think he can bring goalscoring to the team in the second round. Even in training today (Thursday) you could see the goals that a couple of months ago you couldn’t see. We will now have a better striking force. He is very hungry and still fast. Now home, he will deliver that exposure and quality he accumulated overseas,” Dos Santos said.

MBU are 10th in the standings, with 15 points after winning four games, losing six, while conceding 22 goals.

The MBU management had promised three months ago when the new owners took over that additional players would be added.

The other players joining the squad are Gregson President of St Lucia, Josiah Trimmingham and Darnell Hospedales from Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaicans Daniel Reid, Courtney Allen, and Jourdaine Fletcher.