Patrick: No room for complacency

Head coach of Jamaica Premier League leaders Racing United, Anthony Patrick, says his team will not rest on their laurels despite their outstanding form so far this season, noting that there is still a long way to go in the competition.

Racing, who have been enjoying a stellar campaign, are tied at the top of the standings with Montego Bay United on 26 points apiece. However, the Gregory Park-based club holds the advantage with a superior goal difference. At the end of the first round, Racing have won seven games, drawn five and suffered just one defeat from their 13 outings.

Patrick admitted that he is pleased with the team’s progress, particularly given the core group of players who have been together for several years.

“I am feeling overwhelmed at the moment, and why I am so happy is just looking at the set-up and nucleus of players. These are the players that brought us from the St Catherine Division Two straight up to the Premier League, from ages 15, 16 and 17. This team is based on those players,” said Patrick.

Despite their strong position, Patrick is adamant that his players remain grounded, pointing to last season’s disappointment as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change.

“No, we are not going to get carried away because when you look at how we started out in the competition last year, we made a good run but we just barely missed out on a place in the top six. In the latter part of the competition, we fell short by about six or seven points and did not make it into the top six,” he said.

Patrick pointed out that last year’s experience has sharpened the team’s focus this season and they are much hungrier and determined to do well this year.

“My players are very aware of this and so they are determined to ensure that we maintain this form and continue to do well in the competition,” he said.

“I have said to them that I don’t want what happened last season to happen again. We want to ensure that we do whatever we have to do to make the play-offs. We have put in a lot of work, and I must give kudos to all who came on board to join with me.”

Racing have largely relied on their young core, with only a handful of experienced additions this season. In fact, most of the players have been with the club for the past seven years.

“We just brought in Chevaughn Willis from Arnett Gardens in October, and we don’t have a lot of professional players, so he is one of our most experienced players. We also brought in Deandre Thomas from Dunbeholden, and he has some experience as well,” Patrick underscored.

The veteran coach highlighted that when he took charge of the club in 2017 when they were playing in the St Catherine Division Two competition, the move raised eyebrows at the time.

“I must say kudos to all who have been with us and around us from when I took charge because I said no to all the Premier League clubs who offered me jobs after leaving Waterhouse to take a job with a Division Two club. Many persons asked me what I was doing and if I was a crazy man, but I said I have a dream and I want to be the one to help this club,” Patrick said. “When I took over, I took a lot of players from St Catherine High School and also from Innswood High School,” he added.