Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
MORGAN
THE GOOD vibes are set to return to Collie Smith Drive today when Boys' Town Football Club hosts their first premier league match in a decade.
For the three-time champion team which made their return to the island's highest league after a near 10-year absence and was bared from hosting games because it's facility did not meet premier league standards, they could not have asked for a better match to do so.
Rivoli are in turmoil and sit next to the bottom of the 12-team Wray and Nephew National Premier League on 14 points, two ahead of last placed Constant Spring (12).
Having changed coaches towards the end of last week things have not yet turned around for the Spanish Town club, which despite the presence of quality players, have not distinguished themselves in the league and especially in the second round.
"We just had one training session and we did not get a full turn out because of the financial problems. We are just trying to put a team together," said new coach Calvert Fitzgerald yesterday ahead of today's 3:00 p.m. clash.
BEST PLAYER
Absent from that training session was Garfield Reid, undoubtedly the club's best player; Sheldon Battiste, and Devon Hodges who were recuperating from injuries.
The Planter brothers, Barrington and Derrick, were present as well as Mark Wisdom, Omar Parker and Dwayne Forde.
According to Fitzgerald another meeting was scheduled for yesterday evening to determine the quality of his squad. Despite that, the former Waterhouse coach is not fazed by the situation in which he finds himself.
"The club has a decent crop of players, the situation is a challenging one but I strive in such situations," was how he summed it up.
For Boys' Town's part, they will ensure that any striving at Rivoli takes place after today's fixture.
"This is one we have to win. Our aim is to compete and to stay in the league this year and to do so we have to beat teams such as Rivoli," said Lloyd 'Respic' Morgan, club stalwart and adviser to the current coaching staff.
Today's game comes on the heels of a painful loss to Village last week but they have enough fight and hunger to win at home without the presence of veteran Fitzroy Anglin, the only player in the Boys' Town squad who would have played at this level at Collie Smith Drive previously.
In goalkeeper Philmore Crumbie, Fabian Watkins, Marvin Morgan who should start in place of the suspended Anglin, George Vernal and the speedy Jermaine Bailey, they have enough quality to do the business on their home field to keep up with the earlier festivities.
"The fact that we are playing at home again means a lot to the community. Based on what is happening all around us football is like a bright star right now. It brings people together, so today's fixture will be more than a game. It will be like a reunion," Morgan said.
That reunion will take the form of a fun day with activities beginning at about 1:00 p.m., with activities for children and the community in general, said Morgan, who added that about 7,000 people are expected to show up.
