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Executive blames players for Albion Mountain’s debacle
July 03, 2023
Albion Mountain's executive Lincoln Small insists they are not to be blamed for the players' failure to turn up for their final National Tier II game after being recently banned from participating in national football and fined $50,000 by the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) disciplinary committee.
Small explained that they did everything in preparation for the game, but only three players turned up, as the others participated in a two-day football competition put on by veteran entertainer Papa San for an attractive purse of US $10,000 ($1.5 million Jamaican) in Oracabessa that weekend.
He revealed that transportation was sent to retrieve the player on the day, but they refused to leave the corner league competition for their Tier II match.
"What led to us not turning up for the game was beyond Albion Mountain's control," Small insisted.
"We prepared everything for Clembhard Park. The team knew the game would be played, and we made the necessary preparations, but there was a corner league in Oracabessa, and we (executives) didn't learn of this until on the day."
He said the referees and match commissioner were waiting on the players, but only three turned up. He stated that as time progressed, their investigations revealed the situation about the corner league.
"After we found out, we sent a vehicle to pick up the players. We understood that one set had played the day before and lost, so the other set, who were playing that day, told them to go and play.
"They told us they were not coming. We had to ask if that is how they are treating the club. It broke us down when the driver returned and told us what they said," Small said.
He noted that under the ban, players would not be allowed to transfer for the period, which he believes is justified.
Albion Mountain were not restricted from parish football, but the executives pulled out of the St Mary Major League, despite leading Axum 2-1 in their first-leg semi-final.
"We had played the first leg of the Major League semi-final, but the president (James Pearson) said to make good sense prevail, we should stand down and let Axum go on and represent at the final.
"He pointed out that if we won, it could prevent another team from going up to Tier II, so we said all right. So now it's time to regroup," Small said.
