The Argentinian MBU coach likes the club’s modern ideas | Sport

The new head coach of Montego Bay United FC (MBU), Argentinian Rodolfo Zapata, is convinced that fresh ideas coupled with his experience can take the club to the next level.

The team recently announced Zapata as its new head coach after parting ways with Brazilian coach Neider Dos Santos.

“In football, there are no miracles and shortcuts. To build a winning team, it takes time, hard work and consistency to keep working. I love the challenge of building winning teams. I analyzed several times last season on video that they are good players. We are coaches, we are teachers, so we show our players the path they should take and the players have to show what they can do on the field,” said Zapata. The Gleaner.

“I want the fans to enjoy the team. We will play attacking football, just like the Jamaican national team did in 1998. That is what I want for our team. The chairman has fresh ideas for Jamaican football and the MBU and that is why I am here,” he said.

Meanwhile, MBU president Yoni Epstein stated that there was no tension between the club and Dos Santos.

“The Montego Bay board wanted to see what else we could find there, while coach Dos Santos wanted to return. That’s why the separation was not amicable. We love coach Dos Santos, he did a great job in the years he was here, but we wanted to develop the club further,” Epstein explained.

“This club belongs to the city and myself and our team are the custodians of the team. We have to do what we believe is right to take the club to the next level, so we went out and did an extensive interview process. We met people from the UK, the US and from all over the region and at the end of the day we chose coach Zapata.”

Epstein believes that the selection of coach was made easier by the fact that Zapata comes from a region that has similarities to Jamaica.

FULL SUPPORT

“We wanted someone who knows how to win a league, who has similar experience to what we have here in Jamaica and who feels like he has the best resume to do it. The club has given him their full support and although we have high expectations, we know that preseason is very important and that it will help us start the season,” said Esptein.

MBU was placed under new ownership in autumn 2023 and is undergoing a transformation process with renewed investment in resources, players and management.

Dos Santos was surprised by the dismissal, as MBU had remained unbeaten in their last ten games and missed the playoffs due to goal difference.

“In a short time, everyone wants to win, I want to win every single game. There is a lot of competition in Argentina and I grew up in it. The chairman also asked me to develop a program to develop Jamaican players so they can play in the US and Europe. I believe my experience can take the club to the next level,” Zapata said.

Zapata began his career as a professional soccer player in Argentina before earning a coaching degree and moving to North America, where he worked for the USA Olympic Development Program and served as a coach and talent scout for the U.S. national team.

He has been head coach of some of the biggest clubs in South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda as well as the Fiji U20 national team. He is also the founder of the Rolo Zapata Academy for boys and girls in Argentina.