Paul Christie, sporting director of Jamaica Premier League outfit Mount Pleasant Football Academy, says the club will be strengthening its squad in this month’s transfer window with the acquisition of an attacking player from Serbia and a defender from Haiti.
Christie, who declined to name the players, explained that the St Ann-based club is in the final stages of negotiations and will reveal their identities once contracts have been signed.
“We will be bringing a defender from Haiti and we are also going for a winger from Serbia. We think we need a bit more depth where the width of the team is concerned and so that is why we are looking into the European market to get a winger and, as such, now we are in the negotiations with a Serbian club. So, in another couple of days, I can say something more definitive on these, but we are in an advanced stage of getting a defender from Haiti.”
Christie also noted that the club will promote several young players from its academy to further boost the squad.
“We have a couple of kids from our academy who are really ready, based on the reports from the technical team. So will be boosting our squad from the academy as well. I know these youngsters and they are very talented and ready and raring to go, and so I am expecting great things from them.”
He further disclosed that attacking midfielder Nicholas Nelson has left the club to rejoin fellow Premier League side Molynes United.
Mount Pleasant, who finished runners-up to Cavalier in last season’s Jamaica Premier League, losing the final on penalties, are fourth in this season’s standings with 24 points but have four games in hand on leaders Montego Bay United, who sit on 35.
Christie underscored that everyone is aware of the task ahead and that the team is fully committed to achieving success.
“We are a very professional staff and we are aware of our task and we are in the Premier League. We know that it will be tough playing two games in the week, whether it is Sunday and Wednesday or Sunday and Thursday. This is what we have signed up for and we are happy that we are in a privileged position to play football and to improve lives,” he said.
“We are not going to complain about the fixtures because all we have to do is to just manage our players the right and proper way all the time,” Christie stated.
Mount Pleasant, who are the Caribbean Cup champions, winning the competition that has put them so far behind in terms of number of games played, could face Major League Soccer side Los Angeles Galaxy or Panamanian club, Sporting San Miguelito, in the round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup in March.
Christie added that they are preparing in the event they are drawn to face Los Angeles Galaxy, as a number of their players do not have US visas and plans are being put in place for them to obtain the necessary documentation.
“We don’t know if we are going to Los Angeles or Panama in the Concacaf Club Championships but, if we are going to Los Angeles, we have players here who don’t have a US visa and so will be trying to get visas and will be seeking dates at the embassy to get this across line, so as to ensure that we give it the best shot that we can and then we will live with the results,” Christie said.
