No-movement days force postponement of JPL games
Published:Sunday | August 22, 2021 | 12:06 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff ReporterDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) commercial committee chairman, Donovan White, says that the rescheduling of this weekend’s Jamaica Premier League (JPL) matches represented the best scenario possible in continuing the season amid stricter COVID-19 measures.
All games were postponed in response to Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ announcement of seven no-movement days as a means to curb the spike in COVID-19 cases in the island. The periods of no movement will run from Sunday, August 22 to Monday, August 24; August 29 to August 31 and September 5.
Because of the measures, this weekend’s postponed slate will be played next week Friday and Saturday consisting of triple- and double-headers, respectively. White said that while only the Sunday and Monday games would have been affected, the decision was taken by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) competitions committee to reschedule all the games so that all teams get adequate time to prepare.
“Since (we) won’t have the days to play the other games, they thought it was best to shift the games to next week which would also give the team’s Wednesday and Thursday as possible training days to prepare for those games,” White told The Gleaner.
According to the new changes proposed, on August 27 Dunbeholden will play Humble Lion at 10 a.m., Cavalier SC will face Mount Pleasant F.A at 1 p.m. and Harbour View will oppose Molynes United at 3:30 p.m. Meanwhile on August 28, Vere United will play Tivoli Gardens at noon and Waterhouse FC will go against Arnett Gardens at 2:30 p.m.
EARLY AFTERNOON GAMES
It is the latest adjustment that the PFJL has had to make this season as tighter curfew hours have led to earlier afternoon games on Saturdays and Mondays and morning kick-offs on Sundays. White said that they knew that adjustments were possible given the uncertainty of the pandemic and said that they have been managing it to ensure that football could start and that the season could continue.
“That’s the challenge we knew we would have had given the fact that we were getting approvals during a pandemic and if there were spikes, then there could be potential shutdowns or no-movement days like this,” White said. “We have been flexible. Our teams have been extremely helpful in terms that the teams follow the protocols and that we manage the situation as best as we can. We have been extremely vigilant.”
Meanwhile, JFF President Michael Ricketts says that the postponement of this weekend’s games were unavoidable and “non-negotiable”. However, he says that he is confident in the ability of both the competition committee and the PFJL to find a solution during the period.
“We just have to readjust and reorganise. If the Government says that there is no movement, then there has to be no movement. But the competitions department and PFJL are working things out,” Ricketts said.
JFF committee member Ian Campbell confirmed the recommendations and said that they are doing everything possible to ensure that the games will be played on the new proposed dates.
Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) commercial committee chairman, Donovan White, says that the rescheduling of this weekend’s Jamaica Premier League (JPL) matches represented the best scenario possible in continuing the season amid stricter COVID-19 measures.
All games were postponed in response to Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ announcement of seven no-movement days as a means to curb the spike in COVID-19 cases in the island. The periods of no movement will run from Sunday, August 22 to Monday, August 24; August 29 to August 31 and September 5.
Because of the measures, this weekend’s postponed slate will be played next week Friday and Saturday consisting of triple- and double-headers, respectively. White said that while only the Sunday and Monday games would have been affected, the decision was taken by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) competitions committee to reschedule all the games so that all teams get adequate time to prepare.
“Since (we) won’t have the days to play the other games, they thought it was best to shift the games to next week which would also give the team’s Wednesday and Thursday as possible training days to prepare for those games,” White told The Gleaner.
According to the new changes proposed, on August 27 Dunbeholden will play Humble Lion at 10 a.m., Cavalier SC will face Mount Pleasant F.A at 1 p.m. and Harbour View will oppose Molynes United at 3:30 p.m. Meanwhile on August 28, Vere United will play Tivoli Gardens at noon and Waterhouse FC will go against Arnett Gardens at 2:30 p.m.
EARLY AFTERNOON GAMES
It is the latest adjustment that the PFJL has had to make this season as tighter curfew hours have led to earlier afternoon games on Saturdays and Mondays and morning kick-offs on Sundays. White said that they knew that adjustments were possible given the uncertainty of the pandemic and said that they have been managing it to ensure that football could start and that the season could continue.
“That’s the challenge we knew we would have had given the fact that we were getting approvals during a pandemic and if there were spikes, then there could be potential shutdowns or no-movement days like this,” White said. “We have been flexible. Our teams have been extremely helpful in terms that the teams follow the protocols and that we manage the situation as best as we can. We have been extremely vigilant.”
Meanwhile, JFF President Michael Ricketts says that the postponement of this weekend’s games were unavoidable and “non-negotiable”. However, he says that he is confident in the ability of both the competition committee and the PFJL to find a solution during the period.
“We just have to readjust and reorganise. If the Government says that there is no movement, then there has to be no movement. But the competitions department and PFJL are working things out,” Ricketts said.
JFF committee member Ian Campbell confirmed the recommendations and said that they are doing everything possible to ensure that the games will be played on the new proposed dates.