By Nodley Wright, Staff ReporterST. CATHERINE standard bearers Rivoli United will today seek their first away win in the 2002/2003 Wray and Nephew National Premier League when they go head to head with former champions Waterhouse at Emmett Park. Game time is 3:30 pm.
Also in action today are another promoted team, Bull Bay, who host Wadadah at Harbour View; Harbour View journey to Constant Spring and Hazard United go up against Reno at Ferdie Neita Park in Portmore.
The eagerly anticipated clash between defending champions Arnett Gardens and current leaders Tivoli Gardens was postponed until the end of next month because of requests from both clubs. Seba United and Village United will meet tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Jarrett Park.
Newly-promoted Rivoli claimed their first win of the competition on Sunday against Bull Bay, 2-0, and are hoping to continue their winning ways.
"We want to come away from this game with three points," said manager Floyd Morgan. "Waterhouse have won the league before; they are a tough team. So, as newcomers, we have to do our best in order to get the better of them," he said.
Since that time preparations have continued in a positive way under coach Harold Thomas, Morgan added. Their start to the season, according to Morgan, has given them reason to be optimistic after a competitive game against the defending champions Arnett Gardens on their home ground.
"We played fairly well against the defending champions in our opening game and took the lead. We were taking the game to them before losing Ray Graham and from there the game turned but we are convinced that our team can be competitive in this league as we have quality," said Morgan.
The quality Morgan speaks of includes national utility player Chris Dawes who made his debut for them on Sunday, Shawn and Santino Simpson, former national player Patrick Beech, Jamaica's Under-20 goalkeeper Allien Whittaker, the suspended Graham and Derrick Planter.
Waterhouse coach Calvert Fitzgerald whose team is still unbeaten is very confident ahead of this clash. In their opening game they dispatched Wadadah 5-1 and fought their way to a 3-3 draw away to Village United.
"We are very upbeat because to go to Village and get a point we consider that a major achievement," Fitzgerald said.
"Village were preparing long before us and we are a month behind in training so to go up against a team such as that away from home and get a point this gives us some measure of confidence," he said.
For today's game they will have to do without the services of captain Irvino English who was ejected in their last game. As far as Fitzgerald is concerned though, they have enough quality to live without him for this game.
"He is an instrumental player but we have gotten used to playing without him so it should not affect us much," he said. There is still Damion Powell, Damion Williams, goalkeeper Loxley Reid and Demar Phillips. Andrew Mais a forward who scored twice on his debut at this venue should also not be overlooked."
