By Nodley Wright, Staff ReporterNEIGHBOURS Arnett Gardens and Tivoli Gardens will end close to 20 months of not facing each other on home turf when they go head to head at Railway Oval in a double-header today.
The Under-21s of both teams will meet in an overdue end of first round final at 12:30 after which the big boys will rumble at 2:30pm in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League.
Both communities are divided along political lines and have a history of violence which was quelled by a peace initiative by the respective members of parliament. This lasted until April last year when Arnett Gardens community leader William "Willie Haggart" Moore was killed.
"It's a very encouraging decision because quite frankly this couldn't happen at a better time where I believe Arnett and Tivoli will be looking to play each other at home," said Geoffrey Maxwell who currently coaches Tivoli Gardens and formerly coached Arnett Gardens.
Maxwell also added that Waterhouse, whose games with Tivoli Gardens are played at a neutral setting - again due to political differences - will be brought on board. "I'm also hoping Waterhouse will be eventually drawn into a similar situation because if football is to continue to succeed then all problems of the past must be erased," said Maxwell who guided Waterhouse from the Major League to National Premier League winners.
Arnett Gardens coach Jerome Waite also expressed pleasure that the days of Arnett and Tivoli Gardens playing at Up Park Camp without spectators are behind them. For him, the most important thing is for the spectators to behave themselves.
"I feel good to know the JFF and executives from both clubs came together and made such a decision where everything has come down to the supporters. They can make the difference in this encounter going back to the home grounds (on a permanent basis)."
In today's game Maxwell expects his team to have the edge over their opponents who have won the competition for the past two years and recently won the end of first round final. In last round's encounter at Up Park camp Arnett Gardens came away 3-2 winners but this time could be different.
"We've slowly begun to regain the momentum and with the game being played at Tivoli, as a home advantage we've to go out there and give a good account ourselves," said Maxwell.
With a strike partnership of Christopher Nicholas (eight goals and Roland Dean (six) back up by the creative efforts of Steve Green, Layton Barrett and a returning Raymond Smith, Tivoli Gardens should more than give a good account of themselves. In addition to Smith, the defensive trio of Marco McDonald, Craig White and David Laylor will also be back in action.
What Maxwell considers a plus for his team - home advantage - could turn out to be a minus for them as far as Waite is concerned. "... One thing for sure, playing in their own backyard against Arnett Gardens, that will put them under pressure," Waite said.
To add to this pressure on Tivoli Gardens are the presence of Kevin Wilson (nine goals), Walter Boyd, perhaps the competition's assists leader, and the provocative livewire Jonathan Williams. The reliable veteran Denton Shedden should lend support along with Brenton Lopez and possibly Craig Gordon.
Captain Cornel Chin-Sue should be his usual steady self in midfield while Oneil Dunn, Gerald Neil, Alex Thomas and Shane Stevens or Wayne Ellis should marshall the defence. They will however, be missing Eugene Barnes, Fabian Davis, and Kwame Richardson through injury.
Second Round Standings
Teams P W D LGFGAPtsT/Pts
Harbour View 4 2 1 17 7 7 32
Hazard United2 2 0 08 1 6 30
Tivoli Gardens 2 1 1 06 1 4 22
Arnett Gardens 2 1 1 04 2 4 31
Seba United 2 1 1 02 1 4 16
Waterhouse3 1 1 12 2 4 12
Reno2 0 2 01 1 2 13
Village2 0 2 00 0 2 19
Bull Bay 2 0 1 12 6 1 10
Rivoli 2 0 1 12 4 1 14
Constant Spring 3 0 1 23 6 1 12
Wadadah2 0 0 20 6 0 6
