Test of character for Waterhouse

Nodley Wright, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Leaders Waterhouse will face a test of their character today when they meet second-place Tivoli Gardens in the end-of-first-round final of the Digicel Premier League at the National Stadium.

The 6 p.m. fixture will see the Drewsland Avenue team going into battle without their leader, head coach Baris Johnson, who has been missing in action for close to a week. In his absence, assistants Xavier Gilbert and Marcel Gayle have been taking them through their paces as they prepare for the prize money of $250,000 for the winners and $150,000 for the second-place finishers.

According to Gayle, the situation is not ideal for an occasion such as this but the players understand the importance of focus.

"It is not an easy sit-uation but the guys are ready to go. They are up and ready," Gayle said.

"The players have expressed their opinions but realise what is most important at this time. They have decided that their focus is the game and everything will have to come after," added Gayle.

The players, he added, have really been putting out the effort in training as they are eager to bring back a title to their community. What could possible affect them on the day though is the availability of their spark plug, Kenardo Forbes.

Forbes is nursing an injury and was scheduled to do a fitness test yesterday to determine his readiness for the game. But even if Forbes is not able to play, Gayle believes his team has enough ammunition.

"André Clennon will be out because of cards but everyone else will be available for selection. Vincent Earle, the competition's leading scorer, will be there, [along with] Jermaine Fletcher, Jermaine Anderson, Weston Forrest, goalkeeper Richard McCallum and Peter Keyes," explained Gayle, whose team has registered eight wins, one draw and two losses to top the table with 25 points.

High spirits

Tivoli Gardens, who have played a game fewer and have recorded seven wins, one draw and two losses for 22 points, are in similar high spirits, according to manager Brian Rose.

"The vibe is very good. The players are focused and ready to go. There are just one or two niggling injuries but come tomorrow we think we will be prepared to take on Waterhouse, a very tough team no matter the turmoil they are going through," Rose said at the end of their training session at the Edward Seaga Stadium yesterday.

The major injury concern for Tivoli Gardens is striker Devon Hodges, who has formed a vital partnership with Keammar Daley and Roland Dean since Navion Boyd picked up a shoulder injury. Hodges, Rose said, was due to have a physical yesterday to determine his readiness. While there is doubt about Hodges, Boyd, who has not recovered from his injury, and defender Shawn McKoy, due to an accumulation of cards, will definitely be out.

Those absences, Rose said, should not prevent his team from avenging their 0-1 loss to Waterhouse earlier in the season.

"That was a very tough game and it showed that they are a team that fights to the end because they scored in the 84th minute, so it means they never give up but we will be going out there to get the result that we desire and require," Rose said.

"Since that loss to them we have been an improved team. Maybe it was a wake-up call for us, in that we won four in a row and then drew the next match. We hope we can take it even further and avenge that defeat. It was our second loss for the season," added Rose, who will be looking to the veteran Kasai Hinds, his brother Christopher Jackson, goalkeeper Edsel Scott and Kevin Blackford to provide the base for the attacking players.

Officials: Referee - Kevin Morrison; assistant referees - Kedlee Powell and Stacy-Ann Greyson; fourth official - Kevin Thomas.