Montego Bay United (pictured) poses for a team photo prior to the match for third place in the CFU Club Championship against Haiti's Don Bosco on May 24, 2015, in Couva, Trinidad & Tobago. (Photo: Allan V. Crane)
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – With just a month of preseason preparation, Montego Bay United traveled to Panama for its first-ever Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) game, facing Arabe Unido on Wednesday at the Estadio Maracana.
After relinquishing its Jamaican Red Stripe Premier League crown to Arnett Gardens on June 1, Montego Bay returned to training 30 days later. If not for the SCCL, it would have enjoyed another four weeks of vacation.
Despite the short turnaround from the end of one season to the start of a new adventure, head coach Dr. Dean Weatherly says that his team is ready to compete internationally and domestically.
“Yes, it’s a bit new to us to start so early,” admitted Weatherly, who believes the circumstance can be transformed into an advantage. “We could use our fitness and momentum from last season and it will give us a head start for the Red Stripe Premier League.”
The first two weeks of training focused mostly on strength work and fitness, while the last two weeks leading up to the game were spent on tactics.
Though Weatherly is convinced the squad is ready for its initial foray into CONCACAF competition, a headlong rush into battle is not anticipated. There’s a lot to take in, especially against Arabe Unido, a veteran of SCCL play.
“It will be the first time for this team and the players, so we will be cautious and tread gingerly at least for the first 30 minutes or so before we adjust our strategy if we need to,” he commented.
The Montego Bay United coaching staff has thoroughly scouted Arabe Unido, which Weatherly describes as possessing a style that is “direct, with long balls, but has shown they can play the short snappy passes typical of Central American clubs.”
Weatherly is impressed by the 2015 Panamanian Clausura champion’s height and pace, as well as its lethal set plays.
“That means we can’t give anything away, especially close to the box,” the 51-year-old finished. “We must be vigilant at all time and concentrate for 90 minutes.”
