Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:

The decision by the Jarrett Park Management Committee (JPMC) to deny Seba United the use of Jarrett Park for their Wray and Nephew Knock-out Cup fixtures against national champions Waterhouse has left officials, players and supporters of the Montego Bay team hopping mad.

"The way that this came about it is a slap in the face of not only the club, but all sports persons in western Jamaica," said Seba United's chairman Bruce Gaynor. "With no other suitable facility in the parish, this is clearly a case of forcing us out of our own parish."

Following the just concluded league phase of the 2005-06 National Premier League competition, Jarrett Park was officially closed by the JPMC to facilitate preparatory work for the playing of a one-day international cricket game between India and Jamaica on Tuesday, May 16.

While agreeing in principle with the decision to close the facility to do the required repairs, Seba United's manager Orville Powell believes that allowing his team to use the facility for the game would not have impacted on the preparation plans in any significant way.

UNHAPPY

"I cannot see what damage could be done to the field on April 23 that could not be repaired before May 16," said Powell. "We are very unhappy with this decision as it is going to deny our fans a chance to see our team playing against the national champions."

However, a member of the Adrian Grant led-JPMC, who asked not to be identified, said he thinks Seba is very unreasonable, noting that the team had been using Jarrett Park all season and would have had the use of the facility on Sunday had it not been for the preparation for the upcoming cricket match.

"Jarrett Park is not only for football although football uses it most of the time," the JPMC official stated. "I believe Seba need to understand that our cricket fans have the same right to enjoy the facility as the football fans."

As a consequence of the unavailability of Jarrett Park, Seba will now be forced to play both legs of the two-way tie in Kingston.

The first game is slated for the National Stadium on Monday while the return game is slated for Drewsland on Thursday.

Seba United's top midfielder and former national captain, Theodore Whitmore, who has only played one game in Montego Bay since he returned home from professional duties in England, is one of those extremely saddened by the unavailability of Jarrett Park.

"The fans have been asking me when I am going to be playing again because some of them missed my first game," said the wily midfielder.

"I was really looking forward to giving them a special performance in this game."