By Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Hue - File
CARIBBEAN CLUB champions Harbour View FC continue their quest for CONCACAF honours in a crucial away game against DC United of the United States at the Maryland Soccerplex in Germantown, Maryland, tonight at 7:30.
In a game that is scheduled to be broadcast live on FoxSport World, Harbour View will be looking to contain not only the American champions but the dreaded weather hovering at 30 degrees Fahrenheit and predicted to get worse.
According to manager Clyde Jureidini, that's one reason why his team jetted to Maryland as early as last Thursday.
"We left to come here to get acclimatised. As I speak to you now, we are having snow all morning and the ground, it is completely covered in white," he told The Gleaner.
STRUGGLING TO FIND FORM
"Had we come in last night, psychologically we would have been in a lot of trouble. We came in Thursday night, had good warm days up to yesterday and got enough training and acclimatisation," he pointed out.
Harbour View, who have been struggling of late to find the form which made them the top team in the Caribbean, have only one injury worry in Fabian Taylor, the man who most likely would be familiar with the conditions, having played in the U.S. last season.
Donovan Hayles, coach of Harbour View, said: "Fabian Taylor has been struggling with an injury and is not responding very well to treatment so his inclusion will be very difficult with the condition."
However, Harbour View, boasting seven national players, might be outdone by the unfamiliar weather and an icy surface to play on.
But Hayles insists his team is fully equipped.
THE WEATHER A FACTOR
"Definitely, the equipment is not a problem. We have undershirts, body suits that maintain the body heat and long sleeves and gloves."
However, he was cautious about how the players will cope with the visibility and flakes blowing in their face.
"It will all come down to the strength of the individuals," Hayles said. "We are here, come snow or storm, we will have to play through hopefully we will give a very good account of ourselves."
DC United have not been active since lifting the U.S. crown in November last year but with teenage sensation Freddy Adu, Jaime Moreno, Alecko Eskanderion, Ernie Stewart, Brian Carroll, Bryan Nemoff and Dema Kovalenko, they have quality players that will test Harbour View to the limit.
Coach Hayles though, thinks he hads the remedy for the Americans.
"DC play a lot of flank ball and try to stretch the team across the back. They move the ball quickly, they keep moving with some simple passes but very effective. They like to move players from behind so we will have to concentrate and move with the runners."
NO MAN MARKER
As for Adu, Hayles says he will not be using any man marker on the talented youngster, who is capable of tearing apart any defence.
"We all know about Adu and what he is capable of doing and we still need to play our game, we can't be concentrating on one player. We will give attention to him when it is needed.
"I am not too much for one player to be assigned to him to take him out of the game. Once he is in the zone we will pay attention to him," said Hayles.
The winners of the two-leg series March 9 and 16 will advance to semi-finals series April 6 and 13, with the finals set for May 4 and 11.
Harbour View starting team: Leighton Murray (goalkeeper), Jermaine Taylor, Damion Stewart, Christopher Harvey, Donald Stewart, Robert Scarlett, Craig Stewart, Jermaine Hue, Lovell Palmer, Luton Shelton, Nicholas McCreath .
