Hyde preaches patience for Dunbeholden
Head coach Lenworth ‘Lenny’ Hyde believes that, with the plethora of changes Dunbeholden underwent throughout the season, his charges performed well, despite their missing out on a spot in the Jamaica Premier League play-offs.
“I would give the team a score of five out of 10. However, it was a totally new team as we lost about five of the players that went to the final couple seasons ago. It was a new set of players, new system, style of play, but, regardless of all that, I also think we did fairly well,” Hyde
explained.
Dunbeholden, the beaten finalists two years ago, ended the season in eighth place on 37 points, having won 10 of their 26 games, while losing nine and drawing seven.
According to Hyde, Dunbeholden only mimicked his pattern of play intermittently. However, he is aware the players will pick up the habit over time. He added that they will also look to seek fresh faces before next season.
“I saw some improvements in the team playing my style of football. However, it wasn’t consistent. I saw glimpses of how I want them to play, so we just have to keep on working in those departments. When you’re building a new team, those things will happen.
“We will also look to strengthen the team for next season and bring in some young players to strengthen areas of the field, as we will be having a lot of meetings before we start our pre-season,” Hyde stated.
Dunbeholden, in their last five games of the season, only recorded a solitary victory, which came against Vere United in their final game. This, coach Hyde points out, was a pivotal turning point which resulted in their failure to make it into the final six. “Of course, we can’t win only one out of five games. We were also in a three-game win streak and then there was a break for the Jamaica Football Federation elections, and that set us back, and it would have been different if we had that momentum going,” Hyde added.
He revealed that some of his players have gotten scholarships and will ply their trade on the collegiate circuit.
“Some of the players that we have are picking up scholarships, so we’ll be without them. It’s a plus for the team, as we want them to go to school. Whenever they get a break, they’ll return and play for us,” he shared.