Peeved Maroons want to lay winning foundation for arrival of de Oliveira
FOLLOWING last week’s debacle in which Chapelton Maroons were hit hard with disciplinary actions, team Captain Ronaldo Christian says things are looking up with the expected arrival of Brazilian Coach Clovis de Oliveira on Monday as head coach.
Still, the players want to put on a good show for interim Coach Nigel Stewart.
The promoted Chapelton Maroons out of Clarendon will be back in action against Dunbeholden FC in the first of two games at Drax Hall starting at 1:00 pm.
In the other game at Drax Hall, Mount Pleasant play Humble Lion, also at 3:15 pm, while in another doubleheader at Wespow Park, Faulkland FC play Vere United at 1:00 pm before Montego Bay United take on Tivoli Gardens at 3:15 pm.
Waterhouse FC host Portmore United at 4:00 pm.
Monday night’s doubl-header will be at the Jamaica College Ashenheim Stadium with Molynes United versus Cavalier at 5:00 pm before Harbour View and Arnett Gardens clash at 7:30 pm.
But all eyes will be on Chapelton FC, who failed to show for last week’s encounter against Mount Pleasant and were deducted six points and fined $200,000.
Sanctions, which Christian, who is also one of Chapelton FC’S team managers, said were “unfair” from the ruling governing body, the Jamaica Football Federation.
“They believed that it was we who were the problem and not players we didn’t have why we never come to the game. I sent them the sick certificates for the players because they were vomiting and had diarrhoea,” Christian pointed out.
“It was very unfair, but we have a lawyer on the case. They made it look like we just decide not to turn up for the game and that wasn’t the case as we had told them about our problem,” he reiterated.
With the deduction of points,
Chapelton Maroons are now sitting at the bottom of the 14-team league on two points and face a Dunbeholden team climbing the table in sixth spot on 18 points on the back of three consecutive wins.
Although Christian is expecting a positive result, he might face three of his former teammates in Okeeno Jones, Marques Reid, and Christopher Hull, who are now at Dunbeholden.
Christain also revealed he has brought in former national player Evan Taylor, plus Aaron Elliott from Cavalier and Tajay Brown from Arnett Gardens
Meanwhile, leaders Mount Pleasant, on 24 points, will meet third-placed Humble Lion on 20 points in the marquee matchup of the round.
Both teams are loaded with experience and talented players, but the fact that Mount Pleasant have won their last three meetings, the Theodore Whitmore-coached unit must be given the edge.
Mount Pleasant will be looking to join top scorer Trivante Stewart on nine goals, Ricardo Morris, Demarrio Phillips, Kimoni Bailey, and Kevaughn Isaacs for their victory charge.
The Andrew Price-coached Humble Lion will be depending on veteran Andrew Vanzie, who is their top marksman with four goals, along with Roshane Sharpe and Levaughn Williams. Former champions Waterhouse, in seventh spot on 16 points, will tackle a Portmore United team just a point and a spot behind on 15 points and will be looking to leapfrog them.
Montego Bay United, down in ninth spot on 15 points, take on 10th-placed Tivoli Gardens, who are on 13 points, as both teams will be aiming to climb the ladder.
In the battle of the cellar teams, Vere United (seven points) in 12th spot, hunt three points against a Faulkland team in 13th spot on three points.