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Waterhouse, MoBay in gigantic JPL showdown
November 28, 2024
After being replaced at the top of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) standings in only a matter of days, Waterhouse and MoBay United are aiming to reclaim top spot when they lock horns today at 7:30 p.m. at the Drewsland Mini-Stadium.
In the first game of the doubleheader, Vere Phoenix United go up against Mount Pleasant FC Academy at 5 p.m.
MoBay, who led the league earlier in the round, returned to the top of the table last weekend after a 4-0 win over Racing United.
However, their stay at the top only lasted a week, after they slumped to a 3-0 defeat against Mount Pleasant, while Waterhouse drew 0-0 with Portmore United to climb to the summit, only to be replaced by Arnett Gardens FC a day later after the 'Junglists' stopped Vere 2-0 on Monday night. They have the same number of points, 21, as Waterhouse, but a superior goal difference. MoBay United are on 20 points.
"It's going to be a big game," MoBay coach Rodolfo Zapata commented. "And we are ready. We worked hard the last two days and we are fighting for the top of the league and all the games are going to be difficult.
"The most important thing is the team is ready. We are playing good football. The last performance was not bad at all, but we need to learn from our mistakes."
Zapata has a lot of respect for the Drewsland team and especially players Andre Fletcher, Javane Bryan and Denardo Thomas.
"They have good team, good players. I like Thomas, Fletcher and Bryan. Those three players are very dangerous. I like how they play, but we are a big club as well and we have experienced players," Zapata admitted.
"It is going to be a good test to see where we are and what we need to correct going forward. I have good, experienced players, I believe in them, and they know how to manage these sort of situations," he added.
Having gone eight games without defeat, Waterhouse coach Marcel Gayle said it is important that they keep doing the right things and maintain consistency .
"It will be second playing third and we are in good spirits. We are confident and we are looking towards the game. We are going out there to play our brand of football and try to get the desirable result," Gayle said.
"Montego Bay is a fantastic team. They went seven games unbeaten, but we are more focused on Waterhouse and what we have been doing and what we have been improving.
"We are pleased with the areas that we have been improving and we just want to go out and focus on ourselves and what we need to do to get a good result," Gayle explained.
In the night's other game, fifth-place Mount Pleasant (19 points) will look to score back-to-back victories for the first time this season, when they square off against a Vere Phoenix team (nine points) that has won just once in their last eight games and are sitting just above the relegation zone on goal difference.
