Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

WITH THE National Premier League (NPL) title already going to Portmore United, Tivoli Gardens and Waterhouse will be desperate to grab the only remaining bit of silverware left this season when they meet in the final of the COK Champions Cup at the Harbour View Mini Stadium today at 5:30.

NPL contenders heading into the final league round of the season, Tivoli Gardens fell away badly, dropping out of contention after losing their first two games of the round. However, the west Kingston team has been solid in the knockout competition and heads into today's final on the heels of a 7-0 thrashing of giant-killers Granville in the competition's semi-finals two weeks ago. Added to that, Tivoli secured a convincing mid-week league win over dethroned league champions Harbour View.

Only opportunity

"It is the only opportunity we have to take home a cup this season, so we will certainly be working hard to put something into the trophy cabinet." Tivoli manager Brian Rose told The Gleaner.

"The club on a Premier League but that is behind us, what we will be trying to do is to finish the season on a good note," Rose said.

Waterhouse have had their own woes this season and the 2006 champions found themselves out of contention before the final round even began.

Never-say-die attitude

However, against Village in their semi-final, the Drewsland team certainly displayed a bit of its never-say-die attitude, characteristic of their championship run, when they came from two goals down for a 4-2 victory which booted Village out of the competition.

"We are cognisant of the fact that we have not had a consistent season, but we still have a chance to win a title," said Waterhouse coach Wayne Fairclough.

"One good thing however is that while we have been struggling to score goals in league play, the goals have been coming in the Champions Cup, so we are looking forward to a good game today," Fairclough said.

Waterhouse will be without the services of first-string goalkeeper Richard McCallum, while Tivoli will have to do without midfielder Sheldon Palmer, who is also nursing an injury.

The winners of the COK Champions Cup walk away with $300,000 while $200,000 goes to the runners-up. The beaten semi-finalists will receive $100,000 each.