Bell enjoying life in DPL
EFFORTVILLE, Clarendon — Former National Youth coach Neville ‘Bertis’ Bell said while he is “enjoying” his first stint in the Digicel Premier League (DPL), he has no real desire to make it a long-term love affair, unless he becomes ‘head over heels’.
Bell, a former national player, took over the reins at Portmore United just under a month ago as the four-time Premier League champions searched desperately for answers to save themselves from relegation.
The St Catherine-based team is uncharacteristically lying 11th in the 12-team league with 24 points, but with a game in hand.
And Bell is yet to win a game from his two outings, after his team gave up a last-minute goal at the UWI Bowl last week in a 0-1 lost to August Town, but earned his first point on Wednesday as Portmore played out a 0-0 tie with Humble Lion.
The former St George’s College player is, however, hopeful his first DPL win will come in his next game.
He said: “I’m enjoying it. I lost the first one (and) tied the second, so hopefully I win the third one, but I’m enjoying. These are really good players. I’m happy to be here and this is not really about me. This is a good team (and) I think they just need to get their confidence back and this team will do well, hopefully,” Bell told the Observer in a post-match interview on Wednesday at the Effortville Community Centre.
“No, someone ask me to help till the end of the season,” Bell replied sharply when asked if he is thinking about a long-term stint in the DPL.
“… Right now as we speak I have no desire to coach at this level for any long period of time, but who knows, if I really start to enjoy it maybe I might reconsider that,” Bell said with a smile.
Bell, who is renowed as the co-host of TVJ’s breakfast programme, Smile Jamaica It’s Morning Time , said for him, coaching at the schoolboy level is not much different from the DPL, though he has to become more strategic.
“Not really much different… I mean, football is football and it is relative; you play against your peers at Manning Cup; you play against your peers here,” said Bell.
“But, I think the game here obviously is harder… they are tougher players, coaching is obviously a lot better here, so there is more organisation… it makes you work a lot harder as a coach.
“But, it should be like that. This is the Premier League; it shouldn’t be easy. I learn everyday as a coach and hopefully I will continue to learn, but again I’m here because I would love to get this team back where they belong. These are really good players and it is a shame that they are where they are in the league and hopefully, they will get better”, he added.
Since taking over at Portmore, Bell — who coaches St George’s College in the schoolboy Manning Cup and UWI in the Claro/KSAFA Major League, has been stressing that Portmore is a quality team, but seem to lack confidence in front of goal.
Ironically, Portmore — formerly Hazard United — lost the DPL title last season to Tivoli Gardens by one goal.
But, the former Harbour View Youth coach reckons that things have improved since he arrived at Ferdi Neita Park. He told the Observer he has been given enough space by the management and players alike to implement his own philosophy at the club.
“I think it’s getting better, but if you look at St George’s… what we got (them) to do took us months. We didn’t start pre-season playing that well, but we ended the season playing well. So, it might take a while. Unfortunately, we don’t have that much time because we’re almost in the relegation zone if we’re not, so we have to get it working quickly.
“… These kids are not behaving like they know it all. I think it’s more difficult for me to change their mindset because they are much older and they are doing it for so long, but they have given me a chance, I must say that. Everyone at Portmore has given me a chance to try to do what I want to see them do, so I can’t complain; I (have) support and hopefully, it will get better.
And as it relates to him balancing his time between Portmore, UWI and work, Bell said it can become tiring, but he has enough time for everyone.
“It’s not really difficult… it’s the same thing I did with UWI and George’s because we train at different times; we play on different days, so it’s really not that difficult.
“It’s tiring because I train in the morning and I go to work, then train in the evening, so it’s a little tiring, but I’m good”.