ARNETT Gardens FC head coach Jerome Waite says winning the 2014-15 Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) is a huge boost for the South St Andrew community, so afflicted by social and economic ills.

The Arnett team beat Montego Bay United 2-0 at the National Stadium over two weeks ago to lift their first Premier League title in 13 years.

The fans of the Kingston & St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) team heavily dominated the approximately 18,000 attendants watching the football encounter.

Decked in the team’s red and black colours, they were vociferous in their support, particularly after Arnett Gardens took the lead early in the second half.

“It [the win] means a lot and when you looked in the stands it was all red and black,” Waite told the Jamaica Observer.

“And the violence [within the community] will always diminish once football rises. The success is something that can bring a lot of people together,” he said, referring to the unifying force of football and the impact he expects the achievement to have on Arnett Gardens and the wider Trench Town community.

Waite was head coach the last time Arnett Gardens were national champions. In fact, he guided them to back-to-back crowns in the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons.

After a barren spell he parted ways with the club and bided his time as “other coaches were given opportunity”, but failed to match his accomplishments.

After winning the title in the second season of his current stint, Waite, also the National Under-23 assistant coach, said he has received solid backing from the club’s hierarchy.

“If the backing wasn’t there [from the club], the team would not reach anywhere. All of us are moving forward and are on the same page,” said Waite.

He added that he is already planning for the new season, which is expected to start between late August and early September.

Andre Clennon, the former National Under-23 player, scored the opening goal for Arnett before Leon Strickland added the second.

An ecstatic Clennon expressed gratitude to the management of the club.

“It’s a good feeling [to win the title] because we put in the hard work this season, it was a team effort and it paid off. It was something we set out to achieve and we came out in the second half with more purpose. Thanks to the management of the club for supporting us throughout the season,” the forward said.

— Sanjay Myers