Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
( left - right )GOODISON and JOHNSON
NATIONAL PLAYERS Ian 'Pepe' Goodison and Jermaine 'Teddy' Johnson will not be a part of the Tivoli Gardens team for the Wray and Nephew National Premier League semi-finals, the west Kingston team's manager Brian Rose said, amidst swirling rumours, that both players would be included.
"Not to my knowledge, based on the rules. Ian (Goodison) is not really our player. He belongs to Seba. We got him on loan after he went to Seba along with 'Tappa' (Theodore Whitmore) after losing their contracts," said Rose.
Before leaving for England last season, Goodison joined the Tivoli Gardens set-up last year at a point which many experts suggested was the filip to their unbeaten run to the title.
TRANSFER RULES
Rose also explained that Johnson, although out of contract with Oldham Athletic in the English League, is not available based on the transfer rules.
"Teddy is free but his agent is looking something for him right now. He is a professional and he cannot be transferred after the transfer window is closed," Rose explained.
But the player who transferred from Tivoli Gardens has been practising with the team at Railway Oval and, according to Rose, "he really lifted the spirit of the players".
Defending champions, Tivoli Gardens will tackle Harbour View in one semi-final, while Portmore take on Waterhouse in the other at the National Stadium on Thursday.
Tivoli will be trying to overcome a team that beat them in the regional final of the CONCACAF Club Championship series, and later eliminated them from the Red Stripe Champions Cup KO this season.
As they seek to overturn those defeats, Rose said the "vibes in the Tivoli camp is really good" following some extended training sessions.
The talented Lenworth Hyde Jnr. has returned to training and he should bolster a Tivoli team missing a creative midfielder. Injury has kept him out of action for months and Rose says he might play on Thursday.
"He's about 70 per cent fit and might take part on Thursday. It's 50-50 chance you might see him," he stated.
However, the hard-working Davian Laing, who has been a revelation in his left midfield role, could be out with an ankle injury.
Tivoli will also miss the services of national player Fabian Davis, last year's Most Valuable Player, who underwent knee surgery some time ago which ruled him unfit for the remainder of the season.
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