Arnett still in THE HUNT
COACH OF the Arnett Gardens Red Stripe Premier League outfit Jerome Waite says that the club is still hunting the $1 million incentive for the team that finishes the preliminar y stage on most points.
Portmore United are in pole position on 53 points, while Arnett come next on 45 in the race for the bonus prize money.
Arnett, who returned from the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship more than a week ago after qualification to the final stage of that competition, have picked up just one point in their last two games, but Waite is not worried.
“It wasn’t easy in Trinidad and Tobago because playing three games in five days will take its toll. And to see the players coming out victorious by advancing to the next round is a dream come true,” Waite said during the RSPL weekly press conference at the Jamaica Football Federation offices in New Kingston, yesterday.
“Some players got their bruises (in Trinidad) and will have to sit out and see how best they can recover quickly. We are hoping that everyone will be up and ready as the season progresses. We are still looking to give the players an opportunity to recover,” the veteran coach said while giving an update on his team’s performances in the last two games.
After returning, Arnett battled to a 2-2 draw against Humble Lion at the Anthony Spaulding Complex a week ago then lost 2-1 to strugglers Boys’Town last Sunday.
“Two teams turned out last Sunday and played some good football. Most of the first team did not play in that game because they needed rest and we are rotating,” Waite said.
“However, we are looking forward to finish on most points because as you know, the reward is a $1 million. We really want to go at it,” he said.
Oneil ‘Bigga’ Thompson, Arnett’s captain, also added that mentally, the team is fine, but physically, some players needed to rest for what he called the bigger picture: retaining the RSPL Championship title.
“Mentally, we are al lright, but some players are not used to playing three games in five days, so they would take longer to recover. Arnett Gardens will continue to play hard and win as many games as we can,” Thompson pointed out.