ST. CATHERINE standard bearers Rivoli United will today seek their first away win of the 2002/2003 Wray and Nephew National Premier League when they meet 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. Seba United and Village United will clash at 6:30 p.m. at Jarrett Park.
The eagerly anticipated clash between defending champions Arnett Gardens and current leaders Tivoli Gardens has been postponed until October 30 because of a request by both clubs.
Newly-promoted Rivoli earned their first win of the competition two Sundays ago over Bull Bay and are hoping to continue on 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 continued.
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 then 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 in the Bull Bay game, 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 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 to be a major achievement," Fitzgerald 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.
"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," he said.
Meanwhile, at least two new faces will be on the Seba bench this afternoon as they try to break out of their losing streak when they host Village United at Jarrett Park.
The Montego Bay club has signed former Violet Kickers striker Wilfred Smith who is expected to be included in the line-up while veteran coach Errol Gillette will be on the bench alongside coach Dr. Dean Weatherly.
Smith, a former national Under-23 player, is expected to join Theodore Whitmore, Daniel Ricketts and Kirk Wright as they seek to hand the Trelawny team their first loss of the young season.
While not ready to press the panic button, Weatherly said the game was close to a must-win one.
Weatherly said the team could not afford to fall too far behind the leaders and play catch up for the remainder of the season.
Seba have failed to score in their two games and are languishing at the bottom of the table with fellow Montego Bay team Wadadah and another former champion Reno.
TODAY'S GAMES
Bull Bay vs Wadadah at Harbour View - 3:30 p.m.
Hazard United vs Reno at Ferdie Neita Park - 3:30 p.m.
Constant Spring vs Harbour View at Constant Spring - 3:30 p.m.
Waterhouse vs Rivoli United at Emmett Park - 3:30 p.m.
Seba vs Village at Jarrett Park - 6:30 p.m.
