Gilbert backs MBU for title bid next season

DESPITE the appointment of Argentine Javier Marcelo Ainstein as head coach for the 2026-27 Jamaica Premier League season, Montego Bay United (MBU) Technical Director Xavier Gilbert says the club’s objective remains unchanged — winning the title.

Gilbert, who guided MBU to the semi-finals last season, moved into the technical director’s role after Andrew Peart resigned to take up the same position with the Jamaica Football Federation. Ainstein, who coached Waterhouse during the second half of last season, took over first-team duties.

While admitting coaching remained his passion, Gilbert said he believes the club will benefit because he and Ainstein share a similar football philosophy.

After watching the first half of MBU’s pre-season game against Cornwall College in Montego Bay, Gilbert said preparations were progressing well ahead of the new season, on Saturday.

“Things are going great so far,” Gilbert told the Jamaica Observer. “I’m acclimatising myself to the role of technical director and it is a lot of work, but I am capable enough to deal with the situations and put the necessary things in place to make the club more successful than we are at this point. That’s the ultimate goal.”

Gilbert said he has not had time to miss coaching on a daily basis.

“I’ve been at all the training sessions. I’m just not the one out there giving the necessary instructions, but I’ve been here every day providing the necessary support to ensure there is a smooth transition where Coach Javier is concerned and that he gets the support and the tools needed for the club to be successful. Coaching is my passion, but I’ll continue coaching at a lower level.”

Montego Bay United’s Jahmari Clarke wins a header against Cavalier FC’s Akil Henry during the Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League first-leg semi-final football match at the National Stadium on Sunday, May 17. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Gilbert said Ainstein has settled in well and was becoming familiar with the players and the club.

“We are pretty much similar in a lot of things — style of play, playing on the front foot, pressing, everything being on time and being professional, so we’re not too far off at all.”

Gilbert said the club was close to finalising deals for several new players as they seek to strengthen a defence that conceded more than 40 goals during the regular season.

MBU have also been boosted by the return of striker Jourdaine Fletcher, who finished as the club’s top scorer with 12 goals despite playing only about half the season before heading overseas.

“If the numbers are anything to go by, what he achieved last season in just a couple of months, less than half of the season, and he’s still in the top five goalscorers in the Premier League,” Gilbert said. “He was our leading goalscorer, he left early and still finished as our leading goalscorer. That alone should tell you how important it is to have him back.”

MBU have also signed former Mount Pleasant FA player Devante Campbell and expect Shaniel Thomas, who scored 17 goals in the 2024-25 season before suffering an injury in the quarter-final against Tivoli Gardens that ruled him out of last season, to return.

“Shaniel started training last week, but we are being very patient with him,” Gilbert said. “We don’t want to rush him back. It’s a delicate situation. He’s training with the team while continuing his rehabilitation, and hopefully we can have him back sometime this season.”