We want the million! - Waterhouse skipper rallies troops ahead of top-of-the-table clash

Waterhouse coach Marcel Gayle says he is not focussing on the $1-million cash prize issued to the team that tops the regular season points standings in the Red Stripe Premier League.

However, his team captain, Keithy Simpson, told The Gleaner that the players at the Drewsland club, still have their eyes on the funds, having made a commitment at the start of the season to top the league standings at the end of the campaign.

That desire makes today’s game against Portmore United even more vital for second-place Waterhouse, who will be looking to beat the league leaders today at Prison Oval in their 3:30 p.m. start to give themselves a chance of overtaking today’s opponents with two games remaining.

Portmore lead the table with 59 points, followed by Waterhouse, on 55 points , so a win for Waterhouse would put them one point adrift of the leaders. Simpson said that was what they are aiming for from the fixture, which pits last season’s finalists against each other.

“From the players’ point of view, we have set our goals as a team, and we are aiming to finish at the top, and this game only requires a win for us to reach that goal. So we are going to give the extra bit in order to get the three points. It’s two good teams, two teams at the top of their game, playing good football and that’s why we are where we are at the moment. So we take no one lightly, we respect every team, but on the given day, we will try to go out and play our football, and get the three points,” Simpson said.

Looking to rebound

Portmore United are coming off a 3-2 defeat to Tivoli Gardens in the last round of games, and Simpson expects the champions to react and try to rebound. Nevertheless, he welcomes the challenge.

“No matter the situation, results never define a team. We (both clubs) played a hard-fought final last year, where everybody knew we should have won, but it’s who do it on the day, not what you could have done.

“So my word to the players is ‘Go out and play, just know that when you come off the field, there is no regrets you did everything you could.’ But the coaches have prepared the team for each game in a specific way, with specific tactics and we try to go out and put out the coach’s instructions,” said Simpson.

Both previous games between the teams this season ended in a draw, 2-2 and 1-1.