Trust the process!
Hyde wants players to trust in Portmore process against Humble Lion
Published:Saturday | February 12, 2022 | 12:09 AM
Despite inconsistent results so far in the 2022 Jamaica Premier League season, Portmore United head coach Lenworth Hyde is urging his players to keep the faith in the philosophy he is trying to build at the club.
Portmore will get their chance to show signs of improvement when they face struggling Humble Lion in their game today at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence at 3:15 p.m.
After getting their first win of the season on their third attempt two weeks ago, they were quickly brought down to earth, stuffing a 4-0 defeat by league leaders Waterhouse, the first time that Portmore have been shut out so far this season.
Hyde has always preached patience with his young core of players, believing that they can challenge for a title this season, even with the early struggles. However, he acknowledges that they need to accelerate their learning curve to not fall behind in the table.
“We just have to believe and we are asking the players to believe in what we are preaching and hope they will get it soon. (But) we can’t wait too long,” Hyde told The Gleaner.
Portmore are currently in seventh place with four points, in a slightly better position than their opponents who are in 11th place with two points and have yet to win this season. Even with the gap in the standings between the teams, Hyde said that Humble Lion’s situation makes them dangerous foes.
TOUGH GAME AHEAD
“They are a tough team and they are in a not-so-good position like us. But it’s going to be a tough game. We are looking forward to a competitive match from them. We have prepared well this week for this encounter and we just want to get back to winning ways,” Hyde said. “We didn’t play badly (against Waterhouse) but it’s just the result. I think we played better than what the final score showed. What we need to work on is to try and finish (our chances) and create more, and we also have to defend well. We just have to keep learning and improving every time.
Despite having yet to taste victory so far this season, Humble Lion head coach Andrew Price says that they still have their eyes set on a play-off spot, believing that they have enough games, compared to last season, to turn things around.
“We want to be competitive and we want to make the play-offs this season. So we need to continue playing hard, continue working, continue putting in the effort and doing the work that is required to get three points every day,” Price said after their 2-2 draw with Arnett Gardens on February 1.
Meanwhile, league leaders Waterhouse will face bottom club Molynes United at 1 p.m. in the first game of the double-header. Waterhouse are one of the two teams this season with a perfect start so far, with four wins from their first four games. Molynes are still searching for their first win under new coach Garnett Lawrence.