Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer

Waterhouse players and fans celebrate after being presented with the Wray and Nephew National Premier League trophy at Drewsland on April 16. They begin their title defence today against newcomers August Town. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

NINE MONTHS of top-flight local football will begin today with a full slate of matches in the 2006-2007 Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL).

Newcomers August Town (St. Andrew) and Naggo Head of St. Catherine will get their baptism immediately as they go up against the defending champions and runners-up, respectively.

While the top two teams of last year, Waterhouse and Harbour View, could not have asked for better openers to their season, the promoted sides would have possibly been hoping for more friendly entrances to the league.

Not only will August Town and Naggo Head go up against the top two teams, but they will do so away from home.

If the Harbour View players respond to the teaching of new coach Lenworth Hyde Sr., they should have some lessons of their own for Naggo Head.

Slightly better place

Of the two newcomers, August Town appear to be in a slightly better place as they have no less than two players with recent NPL experience to bolster their squad, while the only player of note on the Naggo Head roster so far is the former Olympic and Tivoli Gardens player Layton Barrett.

Barrett, a former Bridgeport High star, has talent but it will take more than him and promises of Walter Boyd to come, to lift them.

Christopher Bender, the man pulling the strings at August Town, is confident that his aggregation will give a good account of themselves.

"The spirit is high. Of course there is a little anxiety heading into our first Premier League game but we are looking forward to the big occasion as our preparations have gone well and we hope that it will carry over into the game," Bender said.

Experienced coach that he is, Bender knows that it will take more than high spirits and the capture of Marvin Morgan (from Boys' Town), Jermaine Richards (from Constant Spring) and Zico Herrera, who last represented Wadadah in the early part of last season, to stop the defending champions. Waterhouse is never the easiest place for visiting teams, especially new ones.

"Playing away, the adrenalin rush will be different. We are going up against the defending champions at their home, so, of course, they will be spurred on by their home support and based on this we expect a very tough game but we will not be overawed. We will be playing our best and aiming to get a positive result," the confident Bender said.

Ready for anyone

As far as Hugh 'Bhingi' Blair, one of the assistant coaches who has filled in at Waterhouse for Barrington Gaynor while he completes his coaching course is concerned, the defending champions are ready for anyone.

"The preparations have gone well and we have retained most of our squad from last year and not only have we retained them, but they will be available for this game. In addition to our national representatives such as Kevin Lamey, Demar Phillips and Richard McCallum, we have Desmond Breakenridge who has returned," Blair said.

He said that others such as Craig White, Vincent Earle, Marco McDonald, Irvino English and Roberto Fletcher were ready for action. He also spoke of how well new forward Bryan Wollaston, from Ocho Rios, had blended with the team.

Despite the many stars in his team, Blair was not prepared to dismiss the challenge of the new boys as they "showed good quality in a recent meeting."

"We have not seen much of August Town apart from a 20-20 game that we played against them recently. In that game, they looked good," he said. "In fact, the game ended 0-0 before we beat them on penalties but now is the real thing. We will see what they really have but whatever they bring we will be ready to go," he said.

In southwest St Andrew, the action should be hot as Boys' Town, who travelled to neighbours Tivoli Gardens last season for their first NPL match in 10 years, host them at Collie Smith Drive today at 3:30 p.m. Tivoli had the better of Boys' Town in that game and the home team will want to dish out revenge this time around.

Normally, Tivoli Gardens would have been considered the favourites based on the quality of their line-up - which includes the likes of Kasai Hinds, Victor Thompson, Roland Dean and Christopher Nicholas - but based on Boys' Town's fighting abilities, the improved play of Oneil Thompson, Xavian Virgo and the experience they gained last year, a win is not beyond them.

Another match worth going miles to see is the match up at Ferdie Neita between perennial pre-season favourites Portmore United and Seba United who are under the guidance of the proven Geoffrey Maxwell.

Games in west

Western Jamaica should be in for a treat at Jarrett Park with home team Wadadah taking on Arnett Gardens at 7:00 p.m. in the feature game of a double-header.

Wadadah may not be at their strongest right now, but they have never been easy to beat at Jarrett Park. Additionally, Arnett Gardens are not the best travellers and have come up second best to Wadadah at this venue.

In the opening game at 5:00 p.m,, the re-energised Village United and the rebuilding Reno FC clash. Even with new coach Danilo Barriga, Village should get the better of Reno.

Today's Games

Boys' Town vs Tivoli Gardens

(at Collie Smith Drive) 3:30 p.m.

Harbour View vs Naggo Head

(at Harbour View Stadium) 6:00 p.m.

Village United vs Reno

(at Jarrett Park ) 5:00 p.m.

Wadadah vs Arnett Gardens

(at Jarrett Park) 7:00 p.m.

Portmore vs Seba United

(at Ferdie Neita Park) 3:30 p.m.

Waterhouse vs August Town

(at Waterhouse Stadium) 4:00 p.m.