5 days ago
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Meadforest FC will take on Treasure Beach in a Jamaica Football Championships (Tier II)) first-leg semifinal this afternoon at Constant Spring playing field and head coach Karumie Huie said it is important that his team turns up on the day if they desire a favourable result.
In the other semifinal, Falmouth play Spanish Town Police at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium. Both games will kick off at 3:30 p.m.
Huie said that Treasure Beach’s Jamaica Premier League (JPL) experience, having played in the 2023-24 season, and the fact that they have been unbeaten this season, with eight wins and six draws from their 14 matches, are reasons to respect their opponents.
“They are in the semifinals, so they must have some quality. They have been to the Premier League, so they have that experience.
“We respect the opponents but do not fear them. They will want to put on a show and we want to do the same.
“It’s two legs. So we have to get three points or don’t lose the game. Hopefully, we can start well and get the desired result,” he said.
He anticipates that the St Elizabeth team will throw everything at them but said they are prepared.
The competition’s leading scorer Raheem Porter (12 goals) will carry the bulk of Meadforest’s hopes, but Huie insists that the rest of the team must show up if they are to do well.
CRUCIAL ROLE
“He (Porter) can turn up and the team does not. He plays a crucial role as he is the centre forward but in terms of the supply and the support of other players, they have to be there also.”
Treasure Beach director, Carlton Taylor, expressed full confidence in his team’s experience and their ability to play away and get the win.
“We are very confident going into the semifinal. We did it once already and we are going to do it again. We have the know-how to get to the semifinals and get to the Premier League,” he said.
“As champions, you have to beat everybody and we are undefeated all season. So if you want to be a champion, it doesn’t matter who comes. You have to face them and beat them.
“We are going to play what we are used to. It will be same format and the same mentality like we took through the regular season, where every game was a final,” he added.
Meanwhile, when Falmouth take on Spanish Town Police in the other semifinal, the hosts will be the favourites. They have been favoured to go all the way since the start of the season.
Falmouth have been the most dominant team in the league with 11 wins and two draws from 14 matches. They topped Zone B standings on 35 points, five ahead of second- place Treasure Beach. They face a Spanish Town Police team that qualified on the last day of the regular season, with victory over direct rivals Lime Hall, to take second place on 26 points, one more than Lime Hall.
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