'Admiral' rallies troops for DPL title decider

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

"All a di man dem weh give up can stop right now, nuh badda come training tomorrow (yesterday). We nuh have no time fi start doubt now," was the charge from the 'Admiral' - head coach Glendon Bailey - to his Tivoli Gardens charges, as he rallied his troops after a bruising 0-0 draw against Harbour View in their Digicel Premier League (DPL) clash on Monday night.

It wasn't an encouraging performance by the league leaders, but it was indeed a point gained; and the only separating factor between themselves and the determined Boys' Town, who won away at Waterhouse in their engagement.

Things could not have turned out better for the neutral supporter, as the results mean that there is still everything to play for when Tivoli Gardens host the 'Red Brigade' in the final game of the season, at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex on Sunday.

Admiral, the man who is hoping to lead the west Kingston-based Tivoli Gardens to their fifth title and second in three years, is quite comfortable with the situation that his team now faces. After all, with a one-point advantage, all they have to do is avoid defeat at home to lift the crown.

"The entire Jamaica was looking forward to this contest. It was highly anticipated that it would be like this going into the last game and a few people did what they could do in their powers to make sure that happened, but at the end of the day, we still have our destiny in our hands and we just have to go out there and apply ourselves; go home, and get the job done," said Bailey with a tinge of controversy, even though he would not elaborate his insinuated theory.

"It has been close between us (Tivoli Gardens and Boys' Town) the entire season and we have been keeping our heads up and digging deep, so we are not nervous, we are just sticking to our game plan," he added.

"Well, we want the win," he said of Sunday's decider. "How it pans out now, all we have to do is avoid defeat, so I am expecting them to rise to the occasion."

apparent comfort

Boys' Town have won two of the three meetings between the teams this season and was the only team to have registered a win at Edward Seaga Sports Complex during the campaign. Bailey is, however, not bothered by Boys' Town's apparent comfort in his team's backyard.

"It's not all the while things go one way, we have beaten them, they have beaten us, so it hangs in the balance. At the end of the day, none of those results matter, it's who need it more on the day," Bailey responded, before touching on his opinion on their performance against Harbour View.

"I didn't like how we started the game, but at half-time we discussed it and based on what was happening around us, I told the guys whatever we do, we need to ensure that we don't lose the game. We'll carry it home, it's in our hands and we'll just have to get the job done," said Bailey.