Debutants looking to leave mark on CONCACAF Club Championships
Published:Sunday | August 20, 2023 | 12:14 AMOrane Buchanan - Staff Reporter
LENWORTH ‘LENNY’ Hyde and his Dunbeholden outfit are fine-tuning preparations in order to take a shot at the title against counterparts in the 2023 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championships.
Dunbeholden will be in action on match-day one against Jamaica Premier League (JPL) rivals Harbour View on Wednesday at Sabina Park at 5:00 p.m.
Ahead of the championships, Hyde believes preparations have gone well and his team is in the right frame of mind to make their presence known.
“Preparations have gone well as the team, even before I reach, had started their work. So the team is looking forward to the competition as we’re taking it very seriously. It’s a league where we can expose our players, so the sky is the limit if they can go out there and perform,” he stated.
Dunbeholden, who will be making their debut at the championships, are drawn in Group B alongside Harbour View, Atletico Pantoja and Cibao based in Dominican Republic and Suriname’s most succesful team in S.V Robinhood.
Hyde, having had experience at this level, believes he knows what it takes to bring out the best in his players and wants to play good football against his Caribbean neighbours.
“We are looking to play good football and progress from the group, so I’m looking for progression for the team. The primary goal is to win it or get as far as possible in the league. As a coach, I have experience in this league coaching with Harbour View and Portmore, so I understand what it takes,” said Hyde.
The veteran coach, who will be undertaking his first assignment, since parting ways with Chapelton Maroons, added that he was aware of the quality of the teams he has to tackle in Group B.
“There’s some good quality teams in our group, so the furthest we can progress, the better it is for Dunbeholden. We want to win it, but I know we have to take it one step at a time, be patient and play good quality football,” he added.
Hyde explained that while, for him, it was not difficult to move from one team to another, imparting your system and style of play doesn’t happen immediately.
“It’s not difficult once you have the experience because you’ll see players again. As a coach, you can leave one club and the player you leave at that club he’s at your new club. So, it’s the dimension of how the team is used to playing that you’ll just have to come now and coach your system and style of play and that is the hard part. But, from you know how to coach, that should be a simple fix.”