Vaccine important to JPL start – Cousins

Vere United owner Lothan Cousins says it is important that the Jamaica Premier League be played this season and the best way to achieve this is through vaccination.

Cousins says that it is critical to get the league going because the national team might just need to call on local players to help see the team through FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

"Local football is going to be very important to the national set-up especially when you look at the fact that we are heading into the World Cup qualifiers and FIFA has continued with the rule that a club can determine whether or not they release a player for internationals," Cousins told STAR Sports.

"So, to my mind, if we do not get local football going, it could hamper our chances of qualifying for the World Cup.

Competitive football

"If we are not playing competitive football how can we take players who have not been active for a year and put them up against players who are playing in MLS and leagues all over on a weekly basis.

Cousins says that inactivity is also having an effect on players.

"We (clubs) are in the business of moving players and we have had offers for players in recent times, and we are unable to move these players because of the pandemic," he said.

"So as long as we remain inactive, the less marketable they get.

"Players are also without a salary and they have their families to feed, so it is very unfortunate that we haven't been able to effectively come to a solution.

"It should be the priority of the Jamaica Football Federation and us as Premier League clubs now to take the vaccine whenever it is available. I think the best way forward is vaccination.

"Vaccine (generally speaking) has been around from time immemorial, and will continue to be around long after."

No football has been played in Jamaica since the league was cancelled last March.