Benbow’s Waterhouse return justified with hot start to season

Waterhouse's Cardel Benbow is finding out that you can go home again. And he hopes his homecoming can be the missing piece to Waterhouse's continued chase for a Jamaica Premier League title.

Benbow, the STAR Player for Week Four, has already surpassed his 2021 production, scoring three goals in four games, including a brace in their 4-0 demolition of Portmore United on Sunday, ensuring that Waterhouse remained perfect to start the 2022 season.

The attacking player did not score at all last year when he was at Mount Pleasant, and he says that his early product validates his decision to head back to Drewsland, with the support of his new teammates.

"I think it's with the environment and the players that I am around (now). Credit to my teammates, they have been the ones that have been motivating me in training. They always have me on the right note. That was the difference between Waterhouse and Mount Pleasant, the players," Benbow told THE WEEKEND STAR.

It is that change in his playing environment that has gotten Benbow back to where he feels he needs to be scoring-wise, reuniting with head coach Marcel Gayle, who worked with him at St George's College, saying that he is enjoying his football now more than ever.

"Any player would feel great to score three goals and two assists in four games. I think it's going pretty well at Waterhouse so far. So, with the coach and everyone welcoming me back home, I feel great. I feel tremendous," Benbow said. "I think coming back to Waterhouse is the go-ahead for me to enjoy the Premier League going forward, and I think it gives me the push to get a contract overseas."

Benbow's immediate future is tied with helping Waterhouse end their 16-year drought for a title, after being in three of the last four finals. Knowing what it's like to be on the losing end with Waterhouse, Benbow says his homecoming is about completing unfinished business.

"I went to a final with them, so it's like a mission to complete now. I think now is the time where we have to stay focused. I think we have a great shot to win the premier league this season," Benbow said.