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Cavalier vow to fight back
December 18, 2024
Cavalier Soccer Club will make another attempt to advance up the table, when they face Montego Bay United in yet another rescheduled Jamaica Premier League football game, at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall, St James, tonight at 7:30.
Cavalier sit fifth in league on 22 points, two less than MoBay United in fourth position.
Following their participation in the Concacaf Caribbean Club championship, which they won, Cavalier have been forced to play catchup in the JPL as the organisers look to clear their outstanding first-round fixtures, before kicking off the second round.
The defending champions, Cavalier, missed a great chance to climb up the standings on Sunday, when they were defeated 3-1 by relegation-threatened Chapelton Maroons. Prior to that contest, they had won at midweek over Arnett Gardens and have been set on a weekend-midweek schedule.
Although their experienced coach and tactician Rudolph Speid has been complaining about a stacked schedule, along with injuries and fatigue, he insists they will have a plan and will not make it easy for their opponents.
"Things are even worse but I won't complain anymore. To reach MoBay is no joke. The traffic is rough. So we will have to get out early and make the best of the situation. But I won't complain again. We will do what we have to do," he said.
"We always have a plan. We will have to play a little more focused and play by the minute. But when the going gets tough, the tough gets going," Speid insisted.
"Our backs are against the wall. We will not make it easy. It will be hard but we will see how best we can deal with it and do what we have to do."
Speid pointed that a string of injuries have prevented them from making many changes and he believes MoBay United will use their situation to their advantage.
"I don't think we can do that (play a less intense game) against a quality team like MoBay. They are aware of it (challenges) and they will force us to play fast," he projected.
"So they will keep the tempo up because they know it will suit them, so I expect them to do that. But we know where we are going and where we are, and we will have a plan," he stated.
Meanwhile, MoBay United's head coach Rodolfo Zapata says despite the challenges Cavalier are currently undergoing, they are a team they respect and will not take lightly.
Nevertheless, he said they will try to impose themselves on the game and try to get the win.
"We will try to take the initiative and dominate the game with ball control and quick transitions. Cavalier is a very good team. When they have ball possession we will try to recover as soon as possible and be aggressive and to play offensive football in their half," he said.
"Coach Speid is a great coach. I understand his position, but I don't think it is going to be an impediment to play a good football game. Cavalier have great young talents, and they recover quicker than experienced players," Zapata said.
