UWI seeking to move closer to $1m bonus

Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) leaders, UWI FC, will look to inch closer to the $1 million bonus set aside for the team topping the preliminary stage when they welcome champions Montego Bay United (MBU) today, at UWI Bowl starting at 3:30 p.m.

The game is one of six scheduled in the penultimate stage prior to the Championship title play-offs later this month.

UWI are on top in the 12-team league with 58 points, followed by Humble Lion (57), Tivoli Gardens (52), Montego Bay (52), Portmore (49) and Arnett Gardens (45) as the teams in the top six.

With that scenario, UWI FC only have to avoid defeat for the first time this season to their opponents in order to stay in pole position entering the final preliminary games next Sunday.

Coach of UWI FC, Marcel 'Fuzzy' Gayle, says his team is hunting the $1-million bonus prize money and ultimately the championship title in their quest for the double this season.

UPBEAT ABOUT WINNING

"We are upbeat about winning the $1 million. The players are going for it. We have MoBay, a team that beat us twice already in Montego Bay, so they should be high on confidence," Gayle told The Gleaner.

UWI's key players include captain Rochane Smith, goalkeeper Amal Knight, former Reggae Boy Keammar 'Dada' Daley, Kemar Flemmings and former national youth star Dawyne 'Rick' Smith.

Meanwhile, although MoBay still have a mathematical chance of taking the bonus prize, chairman Orville Powell says the aim is to prepare for the bigger prize.

"We are at that stage of the season, where we have to step up by winning against UWI. We are not going to UWI to win a $1 million. I figure we have lost that chance," Powell said about his team's slim chances of coming out on top in the race for the bonus prize.

MBU will travel to town with top players such as national senior men's team representatives, Dwayne Ambusley, Owayne Gordon, Jourdain Fletcher, Kevon Lambert, Dino Williams and Allan Ottey.

In another game of high interest, Maverley-Hughenden who are battling for their Premier League life, will oppose Humble Lion.

Humble Lion are in the running for the bonus prize while eleventh place Maverley-Hughenden need a positive result in the relegation battle.

In two previous meetings, Humble Lion won 3-0 and 2-0 at their Effortville Community Centre home field.