Finlayson hopes third time is the charm
Published:Sunday | October 3, 2021 | 12:06 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
Waterhouse captain Nicholi Finlayson has suffered with his team and the community after losing the previous two national football finals (2017-19 and 2018-19) to Portmore United.
However, the 35 year-old central defender, who is looking to hang up his boots at the end of the season, hopes the third time is the charm when they square off against Cavalier in the Jamaica Premier League final this afternoon starting at 2.30 at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.
Waterhouse head into the game as favourites but Finlayson said he expects a very difficult match and that they will have to bring their best game if they intend to walk away as champions this time.
“Three straight finals now the club has been to, and, for me, also a third final.
“It doesn’t matter the team we play, we just know that we have to play our best game on the day.
“We have to go all out and give it our best shot and then hope we win the title this time around,” he said.
WILL NOT UNDERESTIMATE CAVALIER
Cavalier are the underdogs for the match but Finlayson is wary of Rudolph Speid’s young troops and will not underestimate them.
“Every game is a challenge and we look forward to this final. We do not take our opponents lightly because, when you reach a final, any opponent you get will be tough.
“It doesn’t matter who you play or what time,” he insisted.
“The (Waterhouse) team is well-rounded, we play for each other and we play as a team. It is a young bunch with senior players and we are just looking for the team effort,” he continued.
He added that, at Waterhouse, it is occasions like this that they prepare for and he believes they have done all they need to do to get the right result this trip.
“We at Waterhouse do not prepare for the early season, we prepare for games like semi-finals and finals.
“We prepare in training and we know what we are all about. It is just to deal with the pressure of the game and the players stepping up to the occasion.
“It would mean a lot to me to win it as this year will probably be my last season. So it would be a joy for me to win this trophy for the club and for myself,” he concluded.