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Meadforest look past KSAFA squabble to Tier II title
April 14, 2023
Meadforest have placed their fight with the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) on hold and have set their sights on the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) National Tier II competition, with hopes of winning the title and promotion to the top-flight Jamaica Premier League (JPL).
Coach Calvert Fitzgerald is optimistic about their fortunes, being comfortable with their preparation leading into the competition, which starts on Saturday, and believing that they have as good a chance as any of the other 13 teams in the league.
"We have had a good six weeks of training. It is a semi-pro league, so we cannot get everybody every day. We have to work with the situation, but I am fairly satisfied with the preparations and with the turnout of the players. They pushed some good effort, so we are fairly well prepared," he commented.
Fitzgerald's success optimism is rooted in Meadforest's methodology being unknown to the other teams in the competition, which he believes will work in their favour. It is the first time they will be contesting the tournament.
Meadforest will play their first match against Portlanders at Lynch Park at 3 30 p.m. on Saturday, however, their entry into the Tier II competition has been overshadowed by an administrative squabble with KSAFA.
They finished runners-up in the KSAFA Super League, and after the JFF offered them a direct spot in the Tier II competition, they went against a KSAFA motion to refrain from playing. The winners of the KSAFA Super League, Real Mona, declined the invitation.
KSAFA has placed an indefinite ban on Meadforest for breaking ranks, but they have pressed forward undeterred.
Fitzgerald, who has JPL coaching experience with Tivoli Gardens, Waterhouse, and Rivoli, believes that he has prepared Meadforest's players as best as he can but will only be able to assess their ability on the field of play.
"I share my experience, and it seems to have made some headway, but they say the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so we will see the fruits of the labour when the competition starts to see if they have learned and accepted what we have taught them, but I believe we will equip ourselves well," he said.
