The Star (Jamaica)

MBU aim for long-term benefits with coaching clinic

- KAVARLY ARNOLD STAR Writer STAR Writer

Despite Montego Bay United’s (MBU) withdrawal from the 2018/19 season of the Red Stripe Premier League, chief operating officer and director of administra­tion, Sandra Christie, is hopeful things will get better for football in Jamaica. She said the club will continue seeking to establish itself on the internatio­nal stage.

Christie, who said MBU are refocusing their original vision, which she said is to build and empower a nation through football, is excited about the exclusive coaching developmen­t seminar being held at WesPow Park, Montego Bay, which started on Wednesday and ends tomorrow.

MBU, in collaborat­ion with the Jamaica Excel Sports Management (JAESM) is hosting a football coaching and management seminar under the theme, “Improving the Coach to Improve the Player”, directed by Academy Manager of English Football League One, Gillingham Football Club (GFC) UK-based Bryan Bull, in the UK.

“We want to see the young talents get fished out of the communitie­s and get the opportunit­y to showcase their talents. This is why we are changing our presentati­on, by putting our energies where it need to be, which is improving the coaches to improving the players like you see here today.

“Primarily, it is to refocus our energy on building the standard and presentati­on of football in Jamaica. If it means we have to use our resources to this end here, that is what we will do,” she added.

NOT LIMITING ITSELF

Christie was asked about what type of competitio­n the club would be participat­ing in for the 201819 football season. She told STAR Sports that she cannot speak for the president Orville Powell. However, she pointed out that MBU is not limiting itself to just thinking about competing in competitio­ns.

“By virtue of that, MBU is now establishe­d by setting the players and talents that we have on the global market. We believe we are open to competing in almost any avenue we are able to apply. We perceive that, like with the seminar and the relationsh­ip that we are trying to establish with the UK in Gillingham FC, other opportunit­ies will present itself,” said Christie.

“It may just be that for this year having suspended our Premier League participat­ion, that we may focus our energy on finding what the other avenues for competitio­n are. But we are not limiting it to Jamaica, and by no means are we limiting the players that come to us,” she added.

 ?? FILE ?? Ronaldo Rodney (left) of Montego Bay United (MBU) looks on while teammate Owayne Gordon is pushed off the ball by Dane Spence of Sandals South Coast in their Red Stripe Premier League 0-0 encounter at the STETHS Sports Complex in St Elizabeth on...
FILE Ronaldo Rodney (left) of Montego Bay United (MBU) looks on while teammate Owayne Gordon is pushed off the ball by Dane Spence of Sandals South Coast in their Red Stripe Premier League 0-0 encounter at the STETHS Sports Complex in St Elizabeth on...
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 ??  ?? Sandra Christie, chief operating officer, Montego Bay United.
Sandra Christie, chief operating officer, Montego Bay United.

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