‘Teddy’ delays surgery to face Arnett Gardens
Tivoli Gardens’ striker Jermaine ‘Teddy’ Johnson said he plans to delay surgery on his right knee in order to play in his team’s encounter against rivals Arnett Gardens on January 7.
Johnson has been sidelined by the injury, which he sustained in his team’s 1-0 win against Harbour View in the Red Stripe Premier League’s first round on October 16.
However, the national player came on as a substitute yesterday to score a brilliant goal to help his team to a 2-0 victory over Reno at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex.
Johnson told STAR Sports that he is very anxious to face Arnett Gardens, and, therefore, he plans to push back his surgery until after the encounter.
“I am hoping to do the surgery after the game so that I can get another run, but I am looking forward to surgery and getting better,” said Johnson.
“This is my first game back in a couple of months, and I scored, so I feel good about that because it helped my team to get the win,” he said.
“Everyone in the team looks up to me, and me coming back and scoring will give them a booster as well, and so I am hoping we can continue winning games,” said 37year-old Johnson.
Tivoli Gardens are third in the standings on 32 points, eight behind leaders Portmore United. The west Kingston-based team is four points behind second-place Arnett Gardens – the defending champions – who they will meet in their encounter when the competition is resumed on January 7.
Johnson started his senior career at Tivoli Gardens then transferred to Bolton Wanderers, Oldham Athletic Bradford City and Sheffield Wednesday from 2001 to 2014.
He also spent one season at Indy Eleven before returning home in 2015.