It's your turn! - Newcomers Mount Pleasant seek another big RSPL win

Having shot the sheriff last week in the form of defending champions Portmore United, Mount Pleasant FC will this week aim to cut down the deputy defending champions Waterhouse when both teams meet in one of five Red Stripe Premier League matches today.

The cash-rich St Ann-based Mount Pleasant started turning the league upside down with a number of important transfers in the off-season with clubs such as Harbour View, Waterhouse, and Montego Bay United, parting with prized assets in exchange for cash. Those movements had a number of teams fearful of the impact the new club would have on the league. Last week's win over Portmore United brought some of those fears to reality, and another win today could cause panic.

New Waterhouse coach Marcel Gayle is never one to be afraid of the big occasion and will be treating this game like any other.

"I think it is like any another game," Gayle said casually about today's game scheduled for Drax Hall in St Ann.

"We have 33, games and this is the second game. I am not attaching any special significance to it and will treat it like any game. It is neither a final nor a semi-final. It is a long season ahead of us," said the man who qualified UWI FC to the Premier League and kept them there before moving to his hometown club in the off-season.

For Gayle, the fact that the current Mount Pleasant coach, Donovan Duckie, was in charge of Waterhouse last season should not add any edge to the game.

"As far as I am concerned, it does not matter who the coach is. We respect our opposition and the coach, but I think as long as we play with discipline, go out there and execute, we will be all right," explained Gayle, who said that his players were motivated and ready.

The challenge for Mount Pleasant's Duckie is a different one. With the big win on Sunday last, the players are on a high.

"What I can tell you is that we are on a high, so we have to be mindful of that. The mindset of the players is key so we have to manage that. We have done a lot of work and are very happy with how they responded," Duckie said.

Unlike last week when they played away, they should enjoy home advantage today.

"We are looking for a full house, and we know what to expect. Waterhouse are the beaten finalists. We have a lot of respect for the coach, and they have good players so we have to be at our best," he added.

In terms of getting the job done on the field Waterhouse will be looking to Keithy Simpson, Rafeik Thompson, Stephen Williams, and Kenroy Howell. Mount Pleasant, on the other hand, will rely on Cardel Benbow, Suelae McCalla, Devon Hodges, and Ladale Ritchie.

Today's games

3:30 p.m.: Dunbeholden vs Montego Bay United - Prison Oval

3:30 p.m.: Humble Lion vs UWI FC - Effortville Community Centre

3:30 p.m.: Mount Pleasant vs Waterhouse - Drax Hall Sports Complex

3:30 p.m.: Tivoli Gardens vs Reno - Harbour View Stadium

5 p.m.: Cavalier vs Arnett Gardens - Stadium East

Tomorrow's game:

8:35 p.m.: Harbour View vs Portmore United - Harbour View Stadium

POINTS STANDING

Teams P W D L GF GA GD Pts

Cavalier 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 3

Tivoli 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 3

Arnett 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3

Pleasant 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3

Waterhouse 1 1 0 0 1 0- 1 3

H.View 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 1

UWIFC 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 1

Dunbeholden 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0

H. Lion 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0

Portmore 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0

Reno 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0

MoBayUnited 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0