Melton Williams, Staff Reporter
HARBOUR VIEW are hell bent on defending their Jamaica National Federation Cup knockout title today.
A League finalists Rivoli United, who have claimed the prize scalps of Premiership teams Constant Spring and Wadadah, are out to pull off another giant-killing act against the Premier League end-of-second round winners.
The teams will battle for title honours at Prison Oval this afternoon at 3:30.
"We have been working very hard and the results have been going our way and we are going all out to retain our cup," noted Harbour View coach Peter Cargill, who has taken his team from being unfashionable outsiders earlier in the season to serious contenders.
During that transformation in form, Harbour View took the Premier League second round by storm, accounting for red-hot Tivoli Gardens twice within a week including a 1-0 victory to lift the end-of-second round title last Sunday.
Although Harbour View's form has been good, Cargill will not take anything for granted against Rivoli United.
"For them to reach this far and doing well in the A League, they must be doing something right. We respect them, they have good players so we are expecting a tough game. But we are confident in what we can do. So it will be an exciting game on Sunday," said Cargill.
Cargill's team will be missing Damion Stewart in defence as he has joined Kahreem Cooke on the sick list.
Little midfield dynamo Jermaine Hue, who along with Cooke was injured in Sunday's final, is also doubtful for today's game but Cargill said the remaining top players, headed by back-from-injury Fabian Taylor, the leading marksman, will be available.
Cargill said he will wait until the last minute to make a decision on Hue who scored the lone goal in the end-of-second round final.
Although Harbour View will miss Stewart they still boast one of the strongest defensive line-ups with Clifton Waugh, Oneil Smith, Donald Stewart and Robert Scarlett all having international experience.
While Harbour View have been quite busy in recent times, the same holds true for Rivoli United who devoured Seba United three days ago to qualify for the National A League final and earn promotion to the Premier League next season.
The expensively-assembled St. Catherine team blanked Seba United 4-0 at their Prison Oval base on Thursday after trailing by two goals conceded at Jarrett Park in the National 'A' League first leg semi-final last Sunday to send their stocks soaring ahead of today's big clash.
However, coach Harold Thomas knows that today's test will be much harder than what his team received from Seba United.
As a result Thomas, who has studied Harbour View closely, will take a cautious approach into the game.
"Our approach will be very cautious and we will take whatever openings we get," Thomas said.
The skilful Patrick Beech, who has netted 18 goals this season, will lead Rivoli's offensive play. He has a big appetite for destroying any defensive unit but chances are that he could fall short against the well organised Harbour View back line.
