By Daraine Luton, Staff ReporterNATIONAL PREMIER League (NPL) qualifiers Star Cosmos of St. Mary may have to find a suitable home ground before mid-August when the new NPL season begins.
Star Cosmos' home ground is Clembhards Park located on the outskirts of Port Maria in St. Mary. However, if they are to play NPL games on that ground, they will have to make several adjustments for the new season.
The facility lacks the criteria laid down by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). For the past three years the JFF, in its drive to professionalise the Premier League, has implemented standards for clubs playing at that level.
DECENT PLAYING FIELD
All grounds must have the capacity to seat at least 1,500 spectators; a turnstile; perimeter fencing; changing and bathroom facilities; elevated platform and chairs for the media and a decent playing field.
Bryan Rhoden, president of the Star Cosmos Football Club, told The Gleaner that the matter of finding a home ground was important, but not a great concern.
According to him, plans are well advanced to bring Clembhards Park up to JFF specifications. He added that a group (which he refuses to name) will be helping the club to improve its home ground to JFF standards.
When The Gleaner spoke to Rhoden yesterday he said an estimate for upgrading work at Clembhards Park was not yet available.
Meanwhile, Rhoden added that if the club for any reason was unable to put in permanent seating facilities before the start of the season and everything else was in place, then there was a plan in place to install temporary metal seats to ensure that their home games were indeed home games.
Rhoden added that his team was planning ahead so if Clembhards Park is not upgraded in time for the next NPL season, other suitable grounds would be used.
Having said that though, Rhoden is adamant that Star Cosmos will play at home.
"I am confident that we will play at least some games at home (Clembhards Park)," he told The Gleaner.
He further stated that the home ground 'problems' at Clembherds Park "will not prevent us from participating in the competition".
ROAMING
Since this stance was taken by the JFF three years ago, clubs like Waterhouse and Hazard United (now Portmore United) have be roaming. Waterhouse played last season at Emmet Park, St. George's College whilst Hazard went to Ferdie Neita Park in Portmore.
The other qualifiers from the play-offs, Invaders of Trelawny, are in less of a dilemma. It is highly likely that they will share Elletson Wakeland Community Centre with fellow parishioners Village United.
