Nodley Wright, Gleaner Writer
Wilfred Smith of Seba United. - File
WESTERN JAMAICA will take centre stage today with the resumption of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League. Only three sets of matches are on in this the third round as a number of the Kingston-based teams are involved in Jackie Bell Knock out matches.
At Frome, home team Reno will host defending champions and Caribbean club champions Portmore United at 3:00 p.m.
Two hours later the first game in the Jarrett Park double-header, Seba United vs Rivoli United will take place. That game will be followed at 7:00 p.m. headliner between Wadadah and Village United of Trelawny.
Eighth-placed Seba United are expected to continue the good run they enjoyed in the latter part of the second round of the competition, which saw them put some distance between themselves and the current relegation battlers. Rivoli United, their opponents today are rooted at the bottom of the table and with the departure of Garfield Reid and Sean Coleman, two of their better players, should not be much of a match for the rejuvenated Seba at Jarrett Park.
Wilfred Smith's return to goalscoring form coincided with Seba's stabilisation and he is expected to continue in that vein. The addition of giant goalkeeper Loxley Reid should also contribute to their further stability.
Despite Village being placed fourth in the points standings and Wadadah's lowly ranking of 10 in the 12-team League, an exciting and competitive match should be expected. In the two meeting so far this season Wadadah have fared better than their rivals from across the border. They won the first game 1-0 at Jarrett Park and drew the second 2-2 at Elleston Wakeland Centre.
Wadadah have also strengthened their team in the recent transfer window with the addition of defender/midfielder Christopher Currie, utility player Anthony Mowatt and Markeino Gillings, who has returned from Tivoli Gardens.
"These signings will enhance our chances of staying up and all things being equal we can get a positive result which is not losing," said Anthony 'Follies' Williams, coach of Wadadah football team.
While not looking past this game, Williams said his team's ultimate aim is to cement their position in the League and claim a position of respectability.
" There are 33 points out there for the taking and only one team can get that number.
"For us that is not something unattainable. In the second round we got three points from Portmore United the Caribbean champions. We have also beaten Arnett Gardens, Tivoli Gardens and Village United so we have shown that we can beat some of the better teams, we just need to keep doing that," Williams reasoned.
BIG DREAMS
Village's Dr Dean Weatherly also has big dreams, which hinge on a good result from this game.
"Our aim is to get in the Caribbean Cup and with 33 points available any number can play. This game is a very important one. It is the first in the third round.
"We are looking to get at least into second place, and as it is now a number of teams are in contention such as Waterhouse, Portmore, ourselves, Arnett Gardens and Tivoli Gardens," Weatherly explained.
