Showdown in the jungle - Sporting Central, Portmore clash in end-of-round final

Nodley Wright, Gleaner Writer

If Sporting Central are to create history today by winning their first title in the Digicel Premier League at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex this evening at 6, they will have to do so without their captain and most influential player, Jevaughn Watson.

Watson picked up his third caution in the final game of the round against Harbour View and will have to sit out today's all-important game and will have no influence on where the prize money of $250,000 for the winners and $150,000 for the losers goes. While the average team would concede the disadvantage at which some a position would place them, Sporting Central are not even considering it.

"Watson being absent from this game could be a blow because he is the captain but the team has played well with and without him, so I feel the team can pull it off without him. When he was in England, we still did well," said assistant coach Nigel Stewart.

Strength in unity

While acknowledging that Watson is a quality player, the strength of his team is not in the individuals that make it up but that they play as a unit. The players, he said, are all motivated and ready to go.

"The mood right now is nice. This is their first major final since they have been in the Premier League, this is our fourth season, and they are upbeat and ready to go," added Stewart whose only concern is the readiness of Levaughn Williams who will have to be given clearance by a doctor before suiting up.

Like Sporting Central, Portmore United will be missing a key player but, according to Linval Dixon, that should not be a major setback.

"When your most experienced centre half is missing, it is a blow but luckily for us we have players, young players who we have been working with to fill any position," Dixon explained.

"Rafe Wolfe has played in that position and has done well and will probably be the one there to anchor the defence with the likes of Rosario Harriott and Bryan Bayliss," added Dixon whose backline will have to contend with the marauding runs of the competition's leading scorer François Swaby, Gary McIntosh and Williams if he is passed fit.

In the two matches played between the teams so far this season, Portmore United have come out on top on both occasions winning 1-0. Those results, according to Dixon, will have no bearing on today's game.

"We have beaten them twice but I don't think that that will have any significance on the outcome of this game. Cash is involved (today), so it will be a different ball game. The approach will differ from that of a League game.

"We won both games 1-0. The first time they dominated us but sometimes it is not how you play but how you finish," he remarked.

If Portmore are to win, then Steven Morrissey, Ricardo Cousins and captain Mario Swaby will have to be at their best.

Besides the bounty of $250,000 to be collected by the winners of the round and $150,000 for the runners-up, two lucky spectators will head home with huge smiles on their faces.

"The DPL end-of-round final is gearing up to be an exciting match. We applaud both teams on reaching this level, especially Sporting Central with this being their first time at this level. Digicel appreciates the positive impact of sports on individuals and communities - the DPL being a testament to that fact - week after week we see how the games continue to unite communities across Jamaica.

"We also recognise the importance of keeping patrons at the game entertained, so we have some fantastic giveaways and entertainment lined up for half-time, plus two lucky patrons will also go home with a BlackBerry phone courtesy of RIM," said Paula Pinnock-MacLeod, sponsorship manager for Digicel Jamaica.

Today's game:

• 6 p.m.: Portmore United vs Sporting Central - Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.