‘Belief, love’ paying dividends for Tivoli - Jackson

Tivoli Gardens recorded their third successive away victory of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) football season on Monday night, thanks to a Christopher Jackson strike that improved their standing three places to fifth.

The 34-year-old former national defender fired home a left-footer from an acute angle - which looked more like a cross than a shot - and afterwards explained that it was by design.

"We practised that set-piece. We have been practising it since the Monday after the Montego Bay United game. We stuck to the plan, and we got a goal from it," Jackson, also the captain of the team, explained at the end of the game.

building momentum

Monday night's victory over second-place Waterhouse followed an away victory over third-place Montego Bay United, which was preceded by an away win over Sporting Central Academy.

These results are a far cry from what was obtained in the first round especially, and Jackson said they are evidence of something new.

"We have started to believe, started to believe in each other. We are starting to show love both on and off the field, and it is paying dividends right now," Jackson shared.

He added: "This is about five or six games that we have gone without a loss. We are getting a momentum now, and we are hoping it will carry through to the end of the third round and that we will be in the semi-finals."

So exciting are times at the club now that Jackson said they are aiming for the title.

"We have all the confidence in ourselves. We are riding so high now that we can beat any team in the league on any given day, as long as we come and play the Tivoli Gardens brand of football.

"We are aiming to higher heights; the sky is the limit. It has been a while since we have lifted the trophy, so we are vying for it," the former Kingston College representative said.

The only downside to the good vibes at Tivoli Gardens now is the headache coach Alvin Shaw has in selecting his squad.

"We have a very strong bench. The coach is having a headache picking the 18 each Saturday before each game. We just have good personnel, and we intend to carry through to the semi-final," he declared.