Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
Left: Portmore United's Carlington Smith. Right: Irvino English of Waterhouse. - file photos
With over a week of inactivity due to a malaria scare, the Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) will get back into action today with two rescheduled games.
In action today are top team Waterhouse who play away to Portmore United at 3:30 p.m. and third-placed Harbour View who host middle of the table Arnett Gardens at 7:30 p.m.
After such a break the league would have lost some amount of momentum and the powers that be could not have asked for two better games to get the competition going again. Clashes between both teams have always been keenly contested and interest-generating. Today's fixtures are expected to be no different.
"We are expecting a tough encounter. Waterhouse are always a tough opposition for us home or away. We will go all out for a win and the fact that we are at home should help," said Paul Young, coach of Portmore United, ahead of today's clash.
Barrington 'Cobra' Gaynor of Waterhouse shares Young's view of the game.
Players motivated
"It should be a competitive game. The players are motivated because we intend to repeat as champions, and beating Portmore United is a part of the process.
"We are out of the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship so we have just this to concentrate on now, so it should be added incentive for us to do well," Gaynor explained.
Both teams will be without a number of key players for today's game. The trio of Demar Stewart, Jason Morrison and Rafei Wolfe are away training with English Premiership outfit Sheffield United, while Waterhouse will be without the injured Desmond Breakenridge and Vincent Earle and the suspended duo of Demar Phillips and Weston Forrest.
The absence of the players should not significantly affect the quality of the game as both teams are blessed with depth.
"These three have played a pivotal role in our season so those who come in will have to step up. (Onandi) Lowe is back and working very hard in training. He is very focused and will be a handful for any team. I am sure he will be more than motivated to play against one of his former teams. There is also (Kevin) Deerr, Carlington Smith our leading scorer, Anthony Modeste the anchor of the defense and Anthony Bennett available," Young said, pointing to the quality at his disposal.
For Waterhouse's part they will have the likes of Irvino English, Bryan Wollaston, Kevin Lamey, Roberto Fletcher, Craig White, Richard McCallum and Garfield Reid to count on.
The Harbour View Arnett Gardens game should feature the competition's leading scorer Leon Strickland of Arnett Gardens along with Marcelino Blackburn and Kevin Wilson trying to outgun the fit-again Fabian Taylor, Gregg Taylor and Kavin Bryan of Harbour View.
Both games will be preceded by Under-21 matches. Harbour View vs Arnett Gardens at 4:30 p.m. and Portmore vs Waterhouse at 12:30 p.m.
