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Speid calls for home support - Cavalier looking to come from behind and win Concacaf Caribbean Cup
December 06, 2023
Cavalier's coach Rudolph Speid has called on home fans to give full support to his team when they face Robinhood of Suriname in the second leg of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup final this evening at the National Stadium at 7 p.m.
Speid says a win for Cavalier tonight will be a win for Jamaica's football, and after seeing the Robinhood supporters come out in droves to support their team in the first leg in Surimane last week, he is hoping that local football fans will turn out in their numbers to offer their support. The bleachers will be free to all spectators.
"We need it (support)," he said. "We want people to remember this is more than a Cavalier thing. It is a Jamaica thing.
"This is for Jamaica. To enhance the quality of football in Jamaica. We want people to recognise that there are quality players in Jamaica and they can come and look at them.
"So we are hoping that many people will turn out. If they cannot afford the $1000 for grandstand, they can go to the bleachers for free," he added.
With the winners of the competition also guaranteed a place in next year's Concacaf Champions League round of 16, Speid noted that this is an additional incentive for football fans who will get to see other top quality teams and players from across the confederation.
"If we win we will be in the last 16 of the Champions League and guaranteed to play a big team and that means more opportunities for the team and for the players to showcase their talent," Speid said.
Meanwhile, Speid thought they were wasteful in the first leg, which Robinhood won 1-0, and although they have the comfort of home turf, he said they will have to be mindful of the threat their opponents will pose.
"Every game is a new game and they might have seen what we did and might try to control the game. But we are playing at home and should be a little more comfortable," he said.
"They will be trying their best not to concede, if they do that they win the title. We will be trying our best not to concede, and we have to be wary of the counter attack.
"But they are all more familiar to us and we hope we can deal with anything they may come with," he said.
The home team will look to the competition's leading scorer Shaniel Thomas and winger Jalmaro Calvin, who have both been on fire in the competition.
The visitors will look to leading scorer Shaquille Cairo, who has five goals, Dimitrio Andro, Jamilhio Rigters, Franklin Singodikromo and Brazilian midfielder Carlos Da Silva.
