Byjeon Thomas aims high

Byjeon Thomas’ career took a remarkable twist that could yet realise his dream goal of advancing to the national level.

The young coach, now holding the reins at Dunbeholden Football Club has faced setbacks to include never playing his much-loved sport again. Consequently, Thomas is now channelling his energy into transforming a struggling team in the Jamaica Premier League into title contenders.

The journey to the dugout was borne out of heartbreak for the 26-year-old, who had high hopes of going further in the sport while representing Wolmer’s Boys’ then Clarendon College in schoolboy football.

However, a promising career was abruptly cut short when he suffered a knee injury at 19, dashing aspirations of embracing a scholarship opportunity, and playing professionally.

“I tried to recover because I had a scholarship coming up,” Thomas recounted. “But I didn’t, so I just went straight into coaching.

“I tried to recover again and had a brief stint at Cavalier, but I wasn’t able to fully recover,” the tall, heavy-set coach added.

That shift, however, proved to be the start of something fulfilling. Thomas had found his calling, one which had been cited in his playing days by coaches Vassel Reynolds, while at Wolmer’s, and Kevin ‘Sensi’ Williams, at Clarendon College, that he has “an eye for coaching”.

HONING SKILLS

He begun honing his skills at Clarendon College, Denbigh High and then Maverley Hughenden Football Club which he guided to the Kingston and St Andrew Super League title in 2017, and promotion to the summit of Jamaica’s club football.

The KSAFA club would provide his first Premier League challenge, when he had full control for its last nine games.

“It’s a bit similar,” he compared with his new situation. Dunbeholden is a well-supported team, it’s a team from the inner-city, in Portmore, there’s love, and there’s going to be hate when the team is losing. But it is good so far.”

Thomas’ coming together with the club was kind of in ‘buck-up’ fashion. Vastly experienced coach Harold Thomas had just left the team and joined lucrative St Ann Premier League outfit Mount Pleasant Football Academy, but there was a sensational parting with the team after it lost the very first game with the new coaching staff in charge. Harold Thomas was back at Dunbeholden, but only lasted the season’s first two games.

All this happened like in a week.

In a flash, Thomas stepped into the role with the team having just suffered two losses and at a crossroads.

He had an immediate impact, winning over fans with a thirst-quenching victory. But the campaign has not all been rosy, with the club winning four, drawing two and losing six of its other fixtures.

FIRST CHALLENGES

One of Thomas’ first challenges was to restore team morale, as the previous coach’s departure had left a void.

“They had a very good coach, and because of him, a lot of players wanted to come to Dunbeholden,” Thomas explained. “With his leaving, it affected the morale of the players, so we had to fix that first.”

Thomas addressed this issue head-on, focusing on unity and camaraderie, and a higher calling.

“The coach took the players to church on several occasions,” revealed Roger Simmonds, the team’s manager. “He was trying to build that team spirit and togetherness, so each player realised they’re playing not just for themselves but for each other and the club Dunbeholden.

“He has also worked on the mental aspect of the players. You find when 30 young men are together sometimes it’s difficult to get them on the same path and the same trajectory, singing from the same hymn sheet,” Simmonds noted. “That is essential.”

The team now lies seventh in the 14-team league, a mid-table position which is uncharacteristically uncomfortable because their 14 points are only four better than bottom of the table duo Humble Lions and Molynes United.

Even though eight teams are sardine-packed and clamouring to escape relegation’s bottom two, Thomas is full of belief in the club and its players. And besides motivational initiatives, he is looking for strategic adjustments to step up Dunbeholden’s game while working to fulfil his promise of securing a top-six finish for the Portmore-based side.

“He has come in and put his stamp on the team in terms of how he wants them to play and I think improvements still can be made, but its gradual steps,” said Simmonds.

“He has indicated to us (management team) that we have an abundance of midfield talent and we need to get in other players to complement the number of midfield players we have. So we’re working ahead of the January transfer window to see whether or not we can get in some other players to strengthen our defence, because we’ve been leaking goals. There were two games in which six goals were scored, three each, so that is a concern for him and he has indicated that to us,” Simmonds reflected.

“Also in terms of our potency up front, yes, we’re scoring goals and we’re getting goals from our midfielders, but what we also need is like in a game like this that’s tight today, we got a number of opportunities but we don’t have a clinical finisher,” the manager pointed to Sunday’s 1-0 loss against Arnett, who lie second on 30 points, one off leaders Mount Pleasant (31).

OVERALL GOAL

With several victories under his belt, Thomas is focused on Dunbeholden’s revival, and their overall goal. Sixth position is strategic in that the top half-dozen spots are allotted for the end-of-season playoff run-in to the title. Portmore United, the vast municipality’s Premier League standard-bearers, are sixth on 22 points.

“The players are starting to buy into what I want to do,” Thomas said. “I’ve seen improvements – they’re playing better, running harder, and working more as a unit. We just need a little bit more luck.”

Evidence of their misfortunes again played out in Sunday’s loss, when they had two goals waved off for offside. Things like these and lapses in concentration are what Thomas believes will make Dunbeholden stronger.

“In terms of chances created, we’re creating chances but just that final finish ... and luck, even in terms of the offsides is lacking.

“I think the most important thing we need to improve on is to play a competitive 90 minutes. We’ve played games where we played a good 85 minutes, 89 minutes, we just need to complete a good 90 minutes,” he stressed.

Clearly, Dunbeholden FC have a huge fight on their hands, similar to its coach who is striving to prove that setbacks can sometimes form the base of success.

“My ultimate objective is to help my national team in any way possible,” he noted of his ultimate goal of coaching the national team.

Dunbeholden FC creates yet another path to that goal.

“The goal is definitely to finish in the top six. When I came in, that’s what myself and the management discussed. I have high aspirations for the team. We have the talent, and I am goal-driven.”

audley.boyd@gleanerjm.com