Tivoli to buzz as rollicking Mt Pleasant roll into town
The Edward Seaga Stadium should be buzzing with excitement today as one of the league’s most zealous fans will be in town to cheer on their beloved Mount Pleasant in their Jamaica Premier League showdown with home side Tivoli Gardens.
Match time is 3:00 pm.
In the other games today, Montego Bay United tackle Molynes United at 1:00 pm in the first of a double-header at WesPow Park where Faulkland FC take on Humble Lion at 3:00 pm.
The Ashenhiem Stadium will also be hosting two games as Vere United take on Portmore United at 3:00 pm before Cavalier tackle Chapelton FC at 5:30 pm.
On Monday at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, Harbour View and Dunbeholden clash at 5:00 pm before Arnett Gardens face Waterhouse FC at 7:30 pm.
But all eyes will be on west Kingston as home team Tivoli Gardens will be hell-bent on avenging a 1-3 defeat at the hands of Mount Pleasant in November.
Tivoli Gardens — champions of the league on five occasions (the last being in 2011) — are sitting uncomfortably outside the top six play-off position in ninth spot on 17 points.
Now coached by former player Jermaine “Teddy” Johnson, Tivoli Gardens must get their act together if they are to make the play-offs and what better time to start but now.
But their task will be a mammoth one as they face the marauding leaders Mount Pleasant out of the hills of St Ann sitting atop the pile on 32 points.
Tivoli Gardens will be hard-pressed to stop their two-game losing streak, but playing at home, they might just be able to get it right. Still, Mount Pleasant are fancied to win.
Meanwhile, fresh from their first win under new coach, Brazilian Clovis de Oliviera, struggling Chapelton FC — at the bottom of the 12-team league on six points — will have their hands full against a Cavalier team in third spot on 29 points, looking to stay in touch with the leaders.
Cavalier won their first encounter 3-0, and with in-form Collin Anderson in a race for the golden boot with 11 goals, he is expected to be extremely hard to contain.
Former champions Portmore United (18 points) are languishing in eighth spot and sitting two spots and four points adrift of a play-off spot, and they will be hunting three valuable points against a lowly Vere United team in 12th spot on 14 points.
Portmore have not won in their last seven games and are fancied to return to winning ways, especially with the return of inspirational Lamar Walker in their line-up. Both teams played to a 0-0 draw in the first round.
Fourth-placed Humble Lion, on 27 points, should prove too hot for a Faulkland FC team struggling in 13th spot on seven points.
The Andrew Price-coached Humble Lion have won three of their last five games and should secure three more valuable points to stay in touch with theleaders.
Both Montego Bay United and Molynes United will be hoping to move away from the relegation zone while harbouring thoughts of making the top six when both teams meet today. Montego Bay are 10th on 17 points with Molynes United 11th on 15.