MBU Carries Western Jamaica’s Hopes; Davis Calls for Fan Support

With Montego Bay United returning to the JPL semi-finals for the first time since 2016, head coach Paul “Tegat” Davis is urging fans to paint Catherine Hall red and green as they face Mount Pleasant

Montego Bay United head coach, Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis

Clubs like Montego Bay United (formerly Seba United), Violet Kickers, and Reno were once regular contenders for national titles. Today, only MBU remains in Jamaica’s top flight, carrying the hopes of a region that once dominated the local football scene.

Paul “Tegat” Davis, a man who has tasted Jamaica Premier League (JPL) success with Montego Bay United as both player and coach, is now on a determined mission to restore the club’s former glory and revive the pride of Western Jamaica, once a stronghold of local football.

Davis took over as head coach midway through the season after the sudden exit of his predecessor. Having guided MBU to the JPL title nine years ago, he knows exactly what it takes to climb back to the top.

On Monday night, Davis brought Montego Bay United one step closer to their revival, securing a 3–2 aggregate win over Tivoli Gardens to reach their first semi-final since 2016. They now face regular season champions Mount Pleasant FA at Catherine Hall Stadium on Thursday. Though Mount Pleasant have dominated previous meetings this season, Davis says the focus is on the present, not the past.

Despite advancing, Davis was frustrated with parts of his team’s quarter-final display and is now calling on his senior players to step up for the semi-final, warning, “We have to improve against Mount Pleasant. You can’t make certain mistakes against a team of that calibre”, he said.

“It’s great to have Brian Brown back and on the scoresheet. The players know this is their time. They are big players, and they have to step up. I’m happy to see him back, and scoring will boost his confidence.”

With matches coming in quick succession, Davis isn’t dwelling on fatigue. “This is what we’ve prepared for. Big players need to step up. You can’t control everything, so we just have to deal with it.”

He also issued a rallying cry to supporters across Western Jamaica. “It’s been a while since we last won the league, and it’s great to be back in the semi-finals. The players need to understand what this means, not just for them, but for the entire west.

“Come out in your numbers. Wear your colours. I’m tired of seeing white, pink, and greyI want to see red and green. Outnumber them! We need to drown out the blue and white. We need our fans to lift us up. We’re playing for you,” he declared.