Coach worries over recovery after afternoon rescheduled game
Published:Thursday | November 17, 2022 | 12:11 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
THE JAMAICA Premier League (JPL) returns this afternoon, after a break over the weekend, with two high-profile rescheduled games at the Stadium East complex.
In the opening game at 1 p.m., defending champions Harbour View take on the Theodore Whitmore-coached Mount Pleasant, while at 3:15 p.m., high-flyers Arnett Gardens entertain rivals Portmore United.
However, Arnett Gardens coach Eric Rademakers is questioning the reason for the afternoon games rather than having the usual late-evening starts.
“It makes no sense that we are playing at three o’clock in the hot sun. I don’t understand why. (There will be) no fans, no media. The football is going to be less because the players are going to be drained quickly. So what is the advantage? Why are we playing at 3 o’clock in the hot sun? I do not get it,” he lamented.
He noted that they play again on Sunday, and recovery after an afternoon game will be a lot more difficult.
“Sunday, we have our next match ,and three days before our next match, we are in the sun hot. They are putting us through rough times when they should be making it easy on us so we can play better football.
“We want the Premier League to get better and more attractive, and yet you are putting us at 3 o’clock in the afternoon,” he added.
Nevertheless, the Dutch-born coach is hoping that his team can be more efficient when they face their St Catherine opponent.
“We want to be a little more clinical because that is one of the things from last season. We create a lot more than we score, so that ratio has to get a little better.”
Arnett has two wins from two games, and Portmore, two draws from as many matches.
Despite having a better start than their opponents, Rademakers says they remain wary.
“They always have good players, and they are always going to be very motivated to play against us. But we will try to make the most of it and take away their strengths and capitalise on their weaknesses.”
Meanwhile, in the opener, Harbour View, with maximum six points from two games and Mount Pleasant with four points after two starts, square off in another enticing fixture.