W'house aim to keep $1 million dream alive
published: Saturday | June 4, 2005

Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

WATERHOUSE FC, the only team with a realistic chance of overhauling Harbour View in the race for the million-dollar preliminary prize, take on Wadadah in a rescheduled Wray and Nephew National Premier League game at Jarrett Park at 4:00 p.m. today.

Waterhouse on 67 points are joint second with Tivoli Gardens, but are four points behind leaders Harbour View on 71 and a win would put them just one point behind and in striking distance in case Harbour View falter against Rivoli in the final round.

However, the pressure is on the Geoffrey Maxwell-coached Waterhouse team to beat Wadadah because if they lose Harbour View would find themselves in an unassailable position, even with one round remaining.

REAL FOCUS

But Maxwell, the master tactician, said he is not really focusing on the bonus but more importantly on fine tuning his charges for the semi-finals.

"What we are doing right now is preparing the team for the semi-final. Yes, like every other club in the league we would like to win it ($1m), but I'm not putting any interest in that right now.

"If we get a chance to win the one million the club would be very happy," he added.

The last time Waterhouse were supposed to play Wadadah, they lost their coach at the time, Peter Cargill in a car accident and how will that affect the players, only time will tell.

But Maxwell will have to be at his astute best to motivate his players.

"I don't think that is on the players' mind quite frankly because you have to move on in life. The players have gone through a period of understanding, I don't think it will affect the players in any direction," Maxwell reiterated.

The last time both teams met at Jarrett Park was on October 31, 2004 with Waterhouse truimphing 2-1.

Wadadah are currently in eighth position on 32 points and will be aiming to finish as high as possible and could leapfrog Village and Rivoli into sixth position.

Incidentally, Wadadah travel to Village on the final day in what could be the decider for not only sixth place, but the top rural team in the country.