Cavalier hope to be ready for JPL return

WITH THE Wray and Nephew-sponsored Jamaica Premier League returning to venues after last weekend’s hiatus on account of the women’s international break, there are some teams looking to rebuild their early momentum.

Cavalier Soccer Club, however, have no such luck. They will be starting cold when they play against a Montego Bay United (MBU) unit anxious to get the ball rolling after a 0-0 draw against newcomers Lime Hall Academy two Sundays ago and getting thrashed by the rebounding Waterhouse on Monday, this week.

Fortunately, or not, Neider Dos Santos, MBU coach, chalked up that 3-0 loss as being down to a bad first half, and the team could be better prepared to face Cavalier at Wespow Park today.

Cavalier, though, haven’t played in the JPL this season, but for reasons that make the game interesting.

The Rudolph Speid-coached outfit are through to the final of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup on the back of a 5-0 aggregate win over Harbour View.

That result may suggest that last year’s beaten finalists are ready to get going, but Speid isn’t so sure.

“I don’t know (how we might play) as we might run into problems later because we have the same set of players playing,” said Speid in a previous interview with The Gleaner.

‘Harder to play local teams’

According to Speid, the Concacaf Caribbean Cup may not be adequate preparation for the JPL because in the latter, the teams know each other and know how to prepare.

“I think it’s harder to play local teams as the regional teams don’t really know about you. It will be a different kettle of fish whenever we return to the JPL but we just hope that we are a bit fitter and settled,” said Speid.

Newcomers Lime Hall Academy, who had a creditable first outing against MBU, also return to action today against the team that left their first-round opponents in the dust after a torrid first half on Monday.

Waterhouse will be hoping to replicate that start at Drax Hall at 1 p.m.

Two hours later, Mount Pleasant will be up against Dunbeholden at the same venue.

Dunbeholden have one point after their 0-0 opener against Arnett Gardens on October 22 and play against the defending champions eager to prove that their first title under former national coach, Theodore Whitmore, was no fluke.

Mount Pleasant had a difficult contest in their first round, with the always competitive Portmore United. The 1-0 victory for Mount Pleasant in that game may suggest they are ready to defend that title, even against last year’s beaten semi-finalists.

Treasure Beach, another newcomer, will be hoping that mounting support for their arrival in the country’s top league will lead to better results on the field.

The first test of that will come against Portmore United, still smarting from their 1-0 loss to the defending champions. That game is being played at Ferdie Neita Park at 3 p.m.

According to the club’s president, Paul Bernard, Treasure Beach have used the two-week break well and despite a 1-0 loss to Portmore United in their opener, are confident in the squad they have put together.

“We are comfortable with the team that we have, and we will be using the same players from the first game against Humble Lion, but we are gaining traction, and you will see it come Sunday with our fan support as well,” he said.

The other game of the third round on today will feature Humble Lion playing host at the Effortville Community Centre to Molynes United.

Molynes started the season with a 0-0 draw but were one of the teams not a casualty of the international break, losing their second-round game 4-0 to Arnett Gardens.

Head coach Alex Thomas had said the performance from Molynes in that 4-0 loss was poor and that he demanded improvement.

“We have to remind ourselves that we can’t start games as slow as we did,” said the young head coach.

Today’s Games

Lime Hall vs Waterhouse at Drax Hall (1 p.m.)

Mt Pleasant vs Dunbeholden at Drax Hall (3 p.m.)

Portmore vs Treasure Beach at Ferdie Neita Park (3 p.m.)

MBU vs Cavalier at Wespow Park (3 p.m.)

Humble Lion vs Molynes at Effortville (3 p.m.)