Cavalier look to invade Tivoli fortress
Technical director of Cavalier SC Rudolph Speid said playing at Tivoli Gardens FC is always a difficult prospect as the Edward Seaga Sports Complex is seen as a fortress to the west Kingston-based club.
Cavalier is scheduled to play away to Tivoli in the Red Stripe Premier League at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tivoli won 1-0 on October 22 at Stadium East, and the second game ended in a 1-1 draw on January 17 at Tivoli.
“It is difficult to beat them down there. I mean, Tivoli at home with their vocal 12th man have a home advantage. It is always going to be difficult playing at Tivoli’s home venue,” Speid told STAR Sports yesterday.
“We want to beat them as we have not done so for the season. I believe that the players have the ability to beat them but it is a matter of being consistent. Tivoli is one of the clubs that have real home advantage,” he emphasised.
Tivoli will be without veteran Jermaine ‘Teddy’ Johnson, who is suspended after picking up a red card against Harbour View on Wednesday. The game ended prematurely with Tivoli trailing 2-0.
“It will be a difficult game. Tivoli is on a poor run, but I am expecting them to pick up soon. I believe they will play better as a team without Jermaine Johnson as whenever he plays they go to him,” Speid concluded.
CRITICAL WIN
Cavalier, who are third in the 12-team league on 42 points, are five points ahead of fourthplace Tivoli. The young Cavalier squad will rely on captain Chevone Marsh, Alex Marshall, Kamoy Simpson, Paul Wilson, and Kaheem Parris to continue their impressive season.
Having picked up one point in their last five games, Tivoli will look for a critical win on home turf. They will also be without captain and central defender Romaine Brakenridge, who, like Johnson, was sent off against Harbour View.
However, the Omar Edwardscoached Tivoli will look to Barrington Pryce, national midfielder Tevin Shaw, Colorado Murray, who is the team’s top marksman on eight goals, Andre Moulton and Marvin Stewart.