Dunbeholden coach not worried despite losses

Despite losing their opening three matches of this season’s Jamaica Premier League (JPL), Dunbeholden FC head coach Alex Thomas says he still has the full support of the club’s management.

The St Catherine-based club, who were beaten 2-0 by Mount Pleasant Academy at home on Sunday, are second from bottom in the 14-team table with no points from three matches. They have conceded seven goals, while scoring just once.

“Yes, I still have the full support of the management staff from day one, and it is early days,” said Thomas.

“We have 10 more games left for this round and 26 more games for the other two rounds, so why press the panic button at this time?”

Thomas, who took charge of Dunbeholden this summer, admitted that the results have fallen short of expectations and said the team must turn things around quickly.

“It has not been the results that we wanted, and any coach can’t feel pleased with this start. And there are still some positives, and as a coach this is what we are built for, and I just have to stay focused on the journey,” he said.

“We have to turn it around as soon as possible, and it has to happen right now. And I guarantee that we will get it right and we will turn it around as quickly as possible,” Thomas added.

He also noted that being a head coach in the JPL comes with significant pressure, but said he is not allowing that to affect him.

“To be honest, for me as a coach there is no pressure at all. Why would you put yourself under pressure? You understand that job at hand before you take it,” said Thomas.

“I know that at the highest level, your job is at all cost and is also a pressure job, but at the same time I have to remain focused on the objective at hand and always put your best foot forward. And that is what I am doing right now along with my coaching staff,” he underscored.

Dunbeholden are set to face Montego Bay United on Sunday and, according to Thomas, the encounter will be an important opportunity to get their season back on track.

“We face Montego Bay United this weekend and they are one of the top teams in the league, and we want to turn it around against Montego Bay,” he said.