DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Portmore United will meet Village United in one of three all-premier clashes as the draw for the second round of the Red Stripe Champions Cup Knockout was announced yesterday.
The computerised draw which was conducted at the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) Secretariat in New Kingston, also pitted Seba United against Harbour View and Constant Spring against Waterhouse.
The remainder of the draw sees giant-killers Tafari Lions of St Elizabeth tackling Tivoli Gardens; Maverley-Hughenden versus Star Cosmos of St Mary; Reno hosting Portland's St George's; St Catherine's Rivoli versus Bath Sports Club of St Thomas; and Arnett Gardens travelling to face Clarks Town of Trelawny.
STRUGGLING SPRING
Struggling premier league outfit Constant Spring have the ominous task of playing the red-hot Waterhouse and Danny Lyn, Spring's technical director, acknowledged that it's a difficult draw.
"I can't say this is the luck of the draw, " he said laughing. "It's a tough draw because Waterhouse is on top of their game right now."
Lyn continued: "Constant Spring on the other hand are just turning the corner but there will be no new faces as the players were registered long ago. I think we will give a good account of ourselves. We need this kind of competition at this stage of the game to put us back on track."
Meanwhile, Courtney Brown, manager of first round giant-killer Tafari Lions, was optimistic with his draw but would have preferred to avoid another top flight team at this stage.
NOT SATISFIED
"I would not say I am satisfied. I would prefer not to play premier league teams back to back.
"I didn't want to go back in the west because I realised that when it comes to these competitions the western teams play harder than the teams in the KSAFA region.
"I am glad that it is a home game to Tivoli because we play better away from home and I hope that we go through Tivoli the same as Wadadah," said Brown.
Clyde Jureidini, manager of Harbour View, welcomes the clash with premier league team Seba of St James.
"It will be an interesting game. I am satisfied with the competitiveness of the draw," Jureidini said. "Seba is a good team and it's a two-way game so both teams have a fair chance of home and away. It's a game we are looking forward to at this level of the competition."
The 10 first round losers will receive $60,000, while the second round losers will pocket $75,000.
The date for the games were not announced.
- H Walker
