With the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) on a week-long break, four of the nation’s top clubs will be engaged in the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA)/Jackie Bell Knockout competition semi-final today at the Waterhouse Stadium in Drewsland.
In the first game of a double-header, Barbican meet Harbour View at 4 p.m. before Waterhouse face Boys’ Town at 6 p.m. The winners of each semi-final will clash in the final at a date to be announced by KSAFA.
Barbican, under the guidance of coach Marvin Tate, have looked better in their last three games in the RSPL and are fully aware that this is a golden chance for silverware this season.
They are struggling at the bottom in the RSPL, but the focus has now been shifted to the KSAFA/Jackie Bell. Barbican edged Harbour View 1-0 in the teams’ last meeting in the RSPL and will aim for another win with players such as Andrew Christie, captain Ramone McGregor, Akino Bailey, Norman Manley High schoolboy Shaquille Lewis, Nicholas Smith and Akeem Brown.
close encounter
On the other hand, Harbour View will be gunning for revenge and coach Andrew Hines expects a close encounter.
“The last time we met in the Red Stripe Premier League, they (Barbican) took three points from us. We are not expecting them to come and give us the game, so another close encounter is anticipated,” Harbour View’s coach, Andrew Hines, said on Friday.
Harbour View will rely on Nicholas Beckett, Kemar Lawrence, Joel Senior and John-Ross Edwards.
In the feature encounter, Boys’ Town will look to surprise the hosts.
“We are aware that Waterhouse will be at home, but we hope to turn things around and come out winners,” coach Andrew Price said.
Veteran goalkeeper Kirk Porter, Xavian Virgo, Hugh Evans, Carlos Wright, Pierre McPherson and 17-year-old Shamar Nicholson are expected to lead the way for Boys’ Town.
“On any given day, any team can beat the other, especially in a knockout competition,” Marcel Gayle, Waterhouse’s assistant coach, said ahead of today’s semi-final.
Waterhouse’s top players include Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson, captain Damarley Samuels, Juvaune Benjamin, Evan Taylor, Tremaine Stewart, Romario Campbell and Hughan Gray.
The four teams are hunting the winning trophy and top cash incentive of $400,000. The beaten finalists will collect $250,000; third place, $150,000; and fourth, $100,000.
Source: The Jamaica Gleaner