3 months ago
16
The Jamaica Premier League (JPL) climaxes today with fierce rivals Cavalier and Mount Pleasant going up against each other for the third straight championship decider at the National Stadium, starting at 7 p.m.
In the third-place playoff at 4 p.m., Arnett Gardens take on Montego Bay United.
Cavalier defeated Mount Pleasant last year to claim the JPL title. A year earlier, Mount Pleasant were crowned champions following a victory over Cavalier.
This season, the rivalry between the two giants of the local game has intensified, especially after Cavalier filed a complaint that the St Ann-based club had used ineligible players in six matches towards the close of the preliminary round.
Mount Pleasant were cleared of the allegations, but the episode deepened the enmity between the clubs, making today’s final a dream match-up for local football fans.
Mount Pleasant’s assistant coach, Davion Ferguson, however, attempted to play down the growing rivalry between the clubs while noting that they needed no extra motivation other than the desire to reclaim the title.
“We are in a final, and for us, it is all about that motivation. We do not need any other motivation. Many of the staff on Cavalier’s bench and myself have a good relationship as at the end of the day, we are all trying to make football in Jamaica better, and as rivals, I think we are actually doing that, and they are doing the same. This has nothing to do with feelings,” he said.
“Cavalier thought they saw some improprieties and made an alarm. Anybody else in that position would probably do the same. I don’t think Cavalier were out of line.”
Mount Pleasant dominated the JPL regular season, winning 29 of 39 games, scoring an incredible 93 points, seven clear of second-place Arnett.
They were also 20 goals better than any other team and conceded four goals less than the other best defensive team in Portmore.
Cavalier, on the other hand, went on to add the Caribbean Cup title to their list of achievements this year as well as putting on an impressive display in the Concacaf Champions Cup, where they went out to Inter Miami in the round of 16.
In their three meetings in the league this season, both teams won one and drew the other. However, Mount Pleasant got 24 points more than Cavalier, scoring 29 goals more and conceding 18 less.
Ferguson said the teams are very familiar with each other, but he believes that they have a bit more depth and variety.
“Both teams will be looking for ways in which they can gain an advantage. We know what they will do. I can name Cavalier’s best 11. We know the front four. We know exactly what they will do. We have seen it many times.
“They also know our team. But I think we have the luxury of having a little more variety. But they will always bring a surprise, which is something we are mindful of.
“Players like (Shaquille) Stein, Dwayne Atkinson, Dwayne Allen, (Jamilhio) Rigters, (Richard) King, would have been at this stage before. So it is not a game we are going to go in and underestimate these quality players.
“There are Vino Barclett, (Giovanni) Laing, (Jerome) McCleary, and(Jalmaro) Calvin. So they have a well-rounded unit.”
He added: “The mindset for any final is that you have to go in with a mentality to win, and that is our mindset - that we are going to win.”
Cavalier sporting director Rudolph Speid also said he has a very good relationship with the Mount Pleasant camp and coach Theodore Whitmore and that their motivation is to retain their title.
“Me and Tappa (Whitmore) are very good friends. After his semi-final, I hugged him after he won. I don’t know what people are talking about. Me and Tappa are very good friends, but a lot of people keep on talking,” he commented.
Despite Cavalier playing 10 games more than any other team in the JPL this season due to the participation in the Caribbean Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup, and with a limited group of players, Speid stated confidently that they are a team that knows how to get the job done and they will be giving everything they have today.
“We have played 56 games, and the next one will make it 57, in the last 10 months. Sometimes when we are on our last legs, the boys have been able to find a way.
“Our bench is not deep. There are a lot of inexperienced players. Most of the times we have used about 14 players on our way to the championship,” he disclosed.
“But the main thing about these players is they do not know how to lose. People can beat us, but these players are going to fight from start to finish, and there is just one thing on their minds how they are going to get over the opponent.”
Cavalier conceded 41 goals over the regular season, but Speid said they have tightened up those defensive frailties for the playoffs and thinks they are in a better position to go all the way.
“We know how to get the job done. If you look at our opponents, they have spent millions of dollars. They have searched for all the best players in the Caribbean and across the world that they can get. They have specialists from England. They have one of the best coaching staff.
“But we are Cavalier, and everybody knows what that means. We are not going to back down
“Yes, we have played more than one game a week, and we have very small squad, and a lot of players are inexperienced, and we have to be wary about when to put them on the pitch.
“So whoever is there now we will have to try and patch them up and come with one last herculean effort,” he added.
Mount Pleasant have a host of top strikers to choose from, including Shaquile Bradford, Raheem Edwards, Nicholas Nelson, Chevaughn Walsh, and Daniel Green, who can play various positions in attack.
They are also well equipped in the wide areas with Devonte Campbell, Franco Celestine, and Kimoni Bailey while players like captain Sue-lae McCalla, Kyle Ming, and Fitzroy Cummings are expected to provide the defensive steel.
“They were always destined to be in the final after what they have invested in their programme. We are one of the teams that have invested less, but we have other things that we are good at, and we use those things to compete at this stage. We just need one last herculean effort from the guys,” Speid added.
English (US) ·