Portmore United ready to fight for a Caribbean final spot

Rodolph Austin on how the Jamaican side will kick off Semifinals berth.

MIAMI – With no room for slip-ups to get a chance to clinch a spot in the 2026 Caribbean Cup Final, Portmore United will face Violette AC of Haiti, the first leg on Tuesday, October 13, at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.

Emotions are running high for the first Semifinals leg against Violette AC, with eyes also on The Second Leg match-up, slated for Estadio Cibao FC in the Dominican Republic on October 20. The winners on aggregate advance to the final, which will be contested as a two-legged series on December 1 and 5.

Rodolph Austin (1985, Clarendon Parish, Jamaica), spoke exclusively with Concacaf.com, sharing his thoughts on how to take on an opponent that just closed a perfect first phase of a tournament: “They always have very good football in Haiti, so we just have to analyse their team and figure out their weaknesses and their strengths and plan accordingly. I also know that they have always produced some very good individual players,” said the former Leeds United captain.

PORTERMORE’S HUNGER FOR SILVERWARE

Although Portmore has worn the crown of regional club champion, the hunger burns deep for another taste of glory: “Once we are in a competition, we always try to win each and every game. And when we do that, we try to win whatever competition we play in. We have done it before, and it would mean a lot if we do it again” said Austin.

Portmore booked its place in the last four the hard way. Needing a win in their final Group B match, the Jamaican side travelled to the Dominican Republic to face Cibao FC, Cory Burke delivering the winning goals.

“I was really happy with the result. You know, it was a must-win situation — we had to make sure we won the game, and, you know, we went there positive and we got the job done. I was really happy about it,” Austin told concacaf.com.

“Our attack was just as important as our defence because while you can score, you don't want to give up goals at the same time. So, we outlined all those things before the game. We are just happy that we got the result in the end,” he added.

CHAMPIONS FACING ADVERSITY

Austin, said that having the players stare down possible elimination in the final group match was a great teaching moment: “One of the things that makes me happy is for the players to be able to experience these situations. It was a game that we had to win, so I told them*, ‘you can't be the champions of Jamaica and not at least be in the Final of the Caribbean Club Championship’**.* And they got it,” he shared.