Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sports

Simoes

AFTER watching the second half of the Cash Plus Premier League match that Waterhouse won 1-0 over Sporting Central Academy at Drewsland Mini Stadium on Saturday, national technical director Rene Simoes says he felt heartened by the quality on show.

"What I see is much better than what I saw when I came here in 1994," noted Simoes, who also served as technical director between that year and 2000, when Jamaica gained its historic World Cup qualification for the France 1998 Finals.

The Brazilian, who had also witnessed the first half of the Premier League game between Harbour View and August Town at Harbour View Mini Stadium earlier, added: "I'm encouraged because the quality is better than the last time."

Shortly after arriving in the island on Saturday, the technical director stated his intention to search for talent that he'll incorporate into the national teams with overseas-based ballers, particularly the senior team at this point which is gearing towards World Cup qualifiers in June.

It wasn't the most fluent game but it was a very competitive affair between the contestants with a natural attacking flair.

Weston Forrest scored the all-important goal for strong-finishing home team Waterhouse to continue its impressive, unbeaten run since replacing Peruvian coach Danilo Barriga with Wayne Fairclough, netting five victories and 17 points that helped them to claw back at the leaders.

At one stage Portmore United led by as many as six points over Tivoli Gardens, with Waterhouse further back. With Sunday's 1-0 win over Arnett, Tivoli jumped into the lead on 30 points, Portmore lost 1-3 at Lynch Park to Portland newcomers St. Georges

Waterhouse 1

Weston Forrest 84th

Sporting Central 0

Jamaica Football Federation technical director, René Simoes (second right), followed by goalkeeper coach Chico Santos (partly hidden), is greeted by Waterhouse Football Club president, Peter Hibbert (left), while match commissary, Martin Lyn, looks on, at the Drewsland Mini Stadium on Sunday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer