Tivoli look for belief ahead of clash with league leaders

AFTER BACK-TO-BACK defeats,Tivoli Gardens return to action in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) against league leaders Harbour View and coach Jermaine ‘Teddy’ Johnson anticipates a difficult match against the titleholders at the Anthony Spaulding Complex this evening at 7:30.

In the opening game of the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex doubleheader, Arnett Gardens play Humble Lion at 5 p.m.

In other matches around the league, Portmore play Dunbeholden at 3 p.m. and Chapelton Maroons take on Molynes United at 5:15 p.m. at Stadium East in a doubleheader.

At Drax Hall, Mount Pleasant entertain Waterhouse, Cavalier play Faulkland at Wespow Park and Vere face MoBay at the Wembley Centre of Excellence, all at 3 p.m.

Johnson pointed that it will not be easy against Harbour view, who are on a high. But he believes with the right mindset, they can get a result.

“Every game we try to do the best thing all the time. Harbour View are on a high, so we have to do the right things if we want to win. We have to go out with a purpose and be positive because that is the only way you can beat a Harbour View team,” he said.

“We just want to be the Tivoli team that we can be and surprise the people who really don’t expect us to do great in the league.

“Tivoli will do what we need to do to get back on track. Harbour View and coach Ludlow I rate very highly and it is going to be very competitive.

“Harbour View are one of the biggest teams in the country, with some brilliant players but so are Tivoli. We have to go out and believe in ourselves and that Tivoli are one of the biggest clubs as well and just do the work.”

Harbour View coach Ludlow Bernard is not expecting his team to drop the ball in their first game on the resumption of the league.

Nevertheless, he too anticipates a tough game.

“There is a chasing pack and we need to stay ahead. Our squad is fully ready,” he told The Gleaner.

“It is a team that defeated us already, so they should be confident playing against us.

“They also lost two games on the trot and I know they will not take another one laying down. So they will come hard and I expect them to come hard,” he added.

Harbour View lead the standings with 13 points, seven more than Tivoli in 11th.

In another big matchup, second-place Mount Pleasant entertain struggling Waterhouse.

The Theodore Whitmore-coached Mount Pleasant have not been the most eye-catching team despite their quality but have been getting the results and only sit two points adrift of Harbour View.

Waterhouse, on the other hand, have struggled for results and have already tasted three defeats in five matches. They are tenth in the table with six points.

The Arnett-Humbie Lion fixture should also be interesting. The two teams have shown indifferent form this season. A win for Humble Lion would put them level with Arnett on 10 points.

Faulkland and Vere will go for their first wins of the season when they play fifth-place Cavalier and MoBay, respectively.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Today’s Games

Mount Pleasant v Waterhouse at Drax Hall at 3 p.m.

Vere v MoBay at Wembley Centre of Excellence at 3 p.m.

Cavalier v Faulkland at Wespow Park at 3 p.m.

Arnett v Humble Lion at Anthony Spaulding Complex at 5 p.m.

Tivoli v Harbour View at Anthony Spaulding Complex at 7:30 p.m.

Chapleton v Molynes at Stadium East at 3 p.m.

Portmore v Dunbeholden at Stadium East at 5:15 p.m.