Tuffy celebrates birthday with hat-trick in goal fest
In arguably the game of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) season, former national striker, Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson, blasted home a hat-trick and led Waterhouse to a massive 7-2 win over Harbour View on Monday night.
The win brought an end to a two-game losing streak and cemented Waterhouse's position in second place in the 12-team League.
"Our last two games were tough, Tivoli and Arnett Gardens. We got two 1-0 defeats, but we held our cool, trained hard and tried to score lots of goals in the training. Even yesterday, we scored quite a few goals in the training, the A team scored about five goals," said Anderson.
"It was a good look because we scored quite a few goals. That is what killed us in the last two games. We created quite a few chances, but could not score," said the sturdily-built player.
In addition to Anderson's three, Tramaine Stewart scored a double, while Evan Taylor and Juvaune Benjamin - who suffered a season-ending injury - had a goal each.
Jermaine Hue and Ranique Muir scored for Harbour View.
prepared
That the goals came in a flood was especially pleasing to Anderson, who turned 36 on Sunday.
"Yesterday (Sunday) was my birthday, but I did not celebrate last night because I said to myself that I needed it tonight (Monday). I said to myself that I needed to come out and get two, and fortunately, I got three, so this is the night to celebrate," said the player, who has often scored on a Monday night on live television.
He added: "I prayed to God, went to bed early and came prepared."
The performance, Anderson said, was driven by necessity.
"Our backs are against the wall enuh. People said that Arnett Gardens are leading us by 10 points, but that is not the key enuh. The key is who are in the top four. It is about who comes first and who comes second. It is not about points, points don't win the league again.
"Maybe, if it was points then yes, they could say Arnett Gardens, but that is not frightening Waterhouse right now. The players are living as one family and trying to get the job done, that is the key; and trying to maintain a position in the top four," explained Anderson, as he congratulated his teammates for getting the job done.
With the three goals, Anderson said he can regain his scoring title by surpassing Reno's Craig Foster, who has scored 14.
"I am on 12 goals now, so he (Foster) is leading me by two goals. But I can get it (scoring title) back. I was away for a while and Brian Brown from Harbour View got it, and I am back for it now. As a matter of fact, it is three titles that I am coming back for this season. I need the league title and I am not going to give up until I get it, and I also need the MVP trophy," Anderson declared.