New Dunbeholden head coach eyes playoffs

It has been three seasons since Dunbeholden last reached the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) playoffs, and new head coach Alex Thomas says his immediate objective is to guide the team back among the top six at the end of the 2026-27 regular season.

In 2021-22, the St Catherine club finished runners-up, losing to Harbour View in the final. They returned to the playoffs the following season but fell to eventual champions Mount Pleasant in the quarterfinals. Since then, results have dipped – eighth in 2023-24, 10th the following year, and ninth last season.

Thomas, however, believes the winning mindset and competitive culture he is instilling can spark a turnaround. “That (playoffs) is where we want to bring back the club. When they just came into the league, they were pushing and challenging for the title.

“It’s a new coach at Dunbeholden, a new project, new philosophy, a new mindset. We want to create a competitive environment, a winning environment and change the mindset of the players. It is going to take a lot of work but it will bear fruit,” he said.

“The first objective is to reach the playoffs, and then you can take it from there. Everybody wants to play in the club championship. Other clubs are doing it from our country.”

Thomas has been preparing the team for about a month and says progress is steady. “The players have started to believe and started to buy into our philosophy and everybody is coming on quite well. I am alright with where we are at and we will gradually improve.

“The good thing is we have a squad of committed players who want to bring the club to the next level and that’s the most important thing,” he added.

Dunbeholden’s roster includes experienced names such as Odean Pennycooke, Damion Binns, Nickoy Christian, Stephen Barnett, and former JPL top scorer Ataphoroy Bygrave – though Thomas noted Bygrave has not reported to training since his arrival. Young talents Tyrese Gowe, Shakeen Powell, Marlon Allen, Devonte Hodges, and Guyanese striker Michael Oie are also part of the squad.

For their opening game, Dunbeholden will host former champions Cavalier at the Dunbeholden Complex on September 5. Thomas hopes to use the fixture to set the tone for the season. “We play Cavalier and we all know Cavalier are always strong contenders. They have challenged for finals, semifinals and are always there.

“We know what it will take. They will come to our home and we have to make use of the home advantage. It is always good to play those types of teams and be able to set the tone early,” Thomas said.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com