DONOVAN Duckie and Waterhouse may have severed ties several months ago, but it appears the much-travelled coach still has a soft spot for the St Andrew club.

He believes they are clear favourites to win this season’s Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL).

Duckie, now tasked with delivering a first major schoolboy football title to Manchester High, was sacked by Waterhouse nearing the end of the 2012-13 RSPL season.

The club, under the guidance of coach Anthony Patrick, finished second last season and are now eyeing a historic berth in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Speaking to the Jamaica Observer midweek, Duckie said: “They should win easily. At the moment, they have the best structure in the league. The crop of players that they have is more experienced, plus they have a lot of youth. The framework of the club is a continuation from what I left there.

“Patrick was around when I was there; Junior Francis and Marcel (Gayle). They were all there, so it is a transition, which is good because the players understand and they have unity. They are doing well in the Champions League, which is good for their confidence going in to Premier League.”

Waterhouse, who host DC United on Tuesday at the National Stadium in a Champions League group fixture, will open their RSPL campaign belatedly on Thursday against MBU in a repeat of last season’s final at Drewsland.

“They won’t burn out,” reasoned Duckie, “because it’s not like the Champions League is a long competition. They are not going to be playing 38 games, plus they have a deep squad and a good physical trainer. They rotate players a lot and that is important. They just have to manage the group round by round.”

Duckie also tipped another of his former teams, reigning champions Montego Bay United (MBU), to be Waterhouse’s main rivals. He also had honourable mentions for Clarendon duo Humble Lion and Sporting Central Academy, another of his former clubs.

“Montego Bay will be there again challenging Waterhouse,” said Duckie. “I also think Humble Lion could challenge. They have added some very good players and have changed the way they play to a more European style. Sporting Central could be up there, as well — if they manage the players well.”