We’ve played well throughout the season – Thomas

Portmore United's coach, Shavar Thomas, is very pleased with his team's form as the end of the preliminary round of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) approaches.

The defending champions have only tasted defeat four times this season and have won their last five matches despite changes in personnel in midfield and attack, and Thomas believes his side has done well to maintain their high standards.

"Last season, we started the season that same way and it went right through. This season, we didn't start that way and that was because of the success we had last season all the teams were coming to beat us in the earlier stages of the competition. But now we have been able to sustain a winning form now and you can see the quality and the confidence is rising," he said.

"So it's credit to the work the guys have been doing, they have found their consistency, especially since the turn of the year. That is important for us going into the back end of the season, with the play-offs coming up."

Even with the departure of key figures in last season's title success, such as Michael Binns, Ewan Grandison and Malique Foster and then Chavaney Willis earlier this season, Portmore have been able to maintain their consistent form with youngsters such as Emelio Rousseau, Lamar Walker, Surinamese Donnegy Fer, Andre Lewis, and goalkeeper Benjamin William.

"In terms of personnel, we have changed personnel but these (current) guys know they must come and work hard and wait for their chance, and when they get their chance you can see the work that they are doing (in training) on the field. They have confidence in what we are doing and they trust in what we are doing and that is key, so we feel really good about ourselves at this stage of the season," he said.