Showdown at Sabina Park
Tivoli aiming to maintain dominance over Waterhouse
Published:Monday | April 22, 2024 | 12:07 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
After beating Waterhouse twice this season and having a far better run over the preliminary stage of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), Tivoli Gardens head into today’s first-leg quarterfinal against their crosstown rivals as firm favourites. Kick-off time is set for 5 p.m. at Sabina Park.
Tivoli coach Jerome Waite has, however, maintained that the Drewsland-based Waterhouse cannot be underestimated and his players must concentrate for the 90 minutes.
“That (two wins over Waterhouse) is behind us now. They have done well to reach the top six. So it’s a different ball game. So we still have to be ready,” he said.
“Waterhouse cannot be taken lightly. Now it won’t matter what happened in the past, so we will have to stay focused on the task at hand.”
Waite believes that Tivoli have reached about 80 per cent of their potential this season and that they have done much work over the past week to fine-tune the team and he is confident that they will get it right on the day.
“We are still working on the tactical aspect of the team, trying to get them to understand roles and functions and playing in the system.
“We continue to do a lot of finishing to ensure the players get it right on the day.
“Justin Dunn (JPL’s leading scorer with 16) has scored many goals, and I expect him to continue doing so in the playoffs as well.
“But the team has gelled. Although there is still room for improvement, they are doing well,” he contends.
He added also that they anticipate a big turnout from the Tivoli faithful and that it will be an extra boost for his players.
“They (fans) will be at the game in their numbers,” Waite said while adding that it is likely that the entire Tivoli community will travel to Sabina Park to watch the match.
Waterhouse coach Marcel Gayle admitted that consistency was their weak point over the course of the preliminary round.
However, with key players returning from injuries and an impressive four-game winning streak to close the first stage, he believes that their chance is as good as any.
“We haven’t been consistent since the start of the season, but in the last five games, we have been winning matches, scoring goals, and conceding very little,” Gayle said.
“It is a knockout game, and we are down to fine margins and fine details, but we can plug the areas we need to improve on.”
Although he agrees that Tivoli will start favourites, he reminded his rivals that it is a derby and that in a derby, any number can play.
“They got the better of us twice, but we have looked at where we went wrong and have worked on it. Hopefully this time, we can do the things we need to do to win.
“But it is always a keen contest. It is a crosstown derby, and you can say we are the underdogs.
“So we just want to stay focused and stick to the game plan. We have been creating opportunities but not taking them. Hopefully this time around, we can get that right. But the aim is not to concede any, and then we will try to score,” the Waterhouse head coach said.
The Tivoli-Waterhouse clash is the first game of a playoff double-header. In the second game at 7:30 p.m. Arnett Gardens will oppose Portmore United.