Alexis Montieth/Contributor 

Montego Bay United FC has appointed Argentine Rodolfo Zapata as their new head coach.

Zapata’s arrival bolsters the club’s ambitions to win the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) championship within the next two years, aligning with the ownership’s ongoing investment and transformation plan initiated in 2023.

Zapata takes the reins from Brazilian Neider Dos Santos who was let go at the end of last season. Despite a strong finish after a shaky start, MoBay United fell short of the playoffs by a single goal difference after winning their last 10 games of the season.

With a focus on maintaining the momentum of last season’s strong finish, the club has set its sights on securing a playoff berth in the next campaign and challenging for the top spots in the rankings.

“Coach Zapata brings extensive football and coaching experience to the team,” expressed MBU chairman, Yoni Epstein. “He has worked across Africa, Latin America and the US with a keen ability to adapt training programmes to the culture of the country. We are looking forward to capitalizing on his commitment to continuity, consistency and ambition fueled by a winning mindset.”

A former professional footballer in Argentina, Zapata transitioned to management after earning his coaching degree. In North America, he honed his skills with the USA Olympic Development Program, identifying young talent for the national team.  

His coaching journey has seen him guide clubs in South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda. He also led the Fiji U20 National Team.

With a focus on youth development, Zapata founded the Rolo Zapata Academy in Argentina, nurturing talent for both boys and girls.

“To build a winning team, you must first establish a culture of winning,” Zapata insisted when asked what he hopes to achieve at the north coast club. “I want to do something big here, and this will take hard work. I’m here to work hard, not waste my time. This season we are going to start strong and finish strong. I’m here to take MBU to the next level and eventually to CONCACAF.”

The chairman expanded on the direction outlined by the Argentine.

“So over the next two to three years, our intentions are as follows: first, get back into the Caribbean Cup; second, win the Premier League; and third, develop and sell players to give them international opportunities,” Epstein revealed.

He also disclosed that the club’s current coaching staff will play an instrumental role in implementing Zapata’s strategies.

“He will be working with the already solid backroom staff of MBU With Dillon Thilwell as assistant coach; Loxley Reid as defensive and goalkeeper coach; coach Omar, strength and fitness; and Dr. Kevin Christie as physio,” Epstein stated.

Youth development is the foundation of the club’s growth strategy and Epstein explained how MBU will lean on Zapata’s expertise in this particular area.

“We have several young players that we are seeking to continue to develop and give them opportunities to go abroad,” he said. “This is where Coach Zapata will play a huge role as his experience is as a developer of young talent. He has already said that he intends to watch as many schoolboy matches around the country in order to eye players to bring into our squad.”

“We started our academy and we continue to strengthen that area as that is the biggest opportunity for making the club sustainable by developing and selling young players to Europe,” Epstein continued. “As we continue to build on the rich foundation of the club we intend to continue making significant investments into the training facilities, housing and ensuring that the club has the necessary equipment to make us the championship side that we are.”

Despite the challenges faced by the club early last season, the chairman is bullish on the upcoming campaign.

“I don’t see challenges, I see opportunities and the biggest thing to overcome is seeing the team through pre-season and bringing back the unity that we closed with last season,” he underscored.

This enthusiasm was echoed by team captain Owayne Gordon who expressed that “the team is very focused and ready to put in the work to achieve the vision shared by the players, coaches and club directors.”