Cavalier players celebrate a goal against Mount Pleasant.
Concacaf
Cavalier Head Coach Rudolph Speid says the 2-0 win over Mount Pleasant FA to kick off their 2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup campaign provides a solid platform to build on in their charge to achieve long-term goals this season.
Christopher Ainsworth (ninth) and Shaquille Stein (25th) got the job done for Cavalier in a keenly contest encounter at Sabina Park on Tuesday.
“The win is very important, because when teams are in your zone and they’re from the same country or same city, it’s really a derby. It doesn’t matter how strong each team is, it’s a derby, and derby games are the most difficult games you’ll come up against, so getting the first win is always important,” Speid said in a post-game interview.
Cavalier, the reigning Jamaica Premier League (JPL) champions and runners-up in the 2023 edition of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, were more purposeful at the start, and they were duly rewarded when Ainsworth converted from the 12-yard spot after Stein was felled inside the red zone by Jamoi Topey.
Mount Pleasant created a few half chances in their press for the equaliser, but they found Cavalier’s defenders and goalkeeper Jeadine White in defiant mode.
Stein later doubled Cavalier’s lead when he expertly headed home from Jalmaro Calvin’s weighted cross.
Try as they did, Mount Pleasant’s attackers couldn’t find a way past White, who ended the contest with six crucial saves, including a last-minute reflex stop diving low at his near post to deny Rayonne Mbougain in time added.
Cavalier also had their fair share of chances to add to their tally, the best of which fell to Kaile Auvray in the 49th minute, but Mount Pleasant’s custodian Tafari Chambers came up big to stop the close-range effort.
Speid lauded his team for a solid defensive effort, which ensured they sit atop Group A on three points heading into the second round of games on August 29.
Then, Cavalier will host Trinidad and Tobago outfit Police FC in Kingston, while Mount Pleasant FA will look to rebound against CFU Club Shield winners, Arnett Gardens FC, on August 27 at Sabina Park.
“We did not know what Mount Pleasant was going to do. We decided we were going to be tough on defence. The defence, including the goalkeeper, stood out. It is not easy to keep a clean sheet against those players from Mount Pleasant, as they can turn a game on its head,” Speid reasoned.
“So our concentration was spot on from minute one. Although we defended stoutly, we were positive all the time. We attacked when the occasion aroused, and we didn’t hesitate. We could have even scored two more,” he noted.
His counterpart Harold Thomas, who took over from Theodore “Tappa” Whitmore in June, believes his side lacked the hunger and conviction of their opponents.
“One of the things we have to do is look at the players who are hungry for it. You hear Cavalier’s approach to the game, they have a group of youngsters that don’t have the kind of reputation that our players have, but they’re hungry. They want to make a name for themselves,” Thomas stated.
“We need to find players who want to make a name for themselves or even those who have a name to improve their credibility. We know the quality of the players. There are some things we have to change, but the quality is there. The motivation will be a great factor because what we saw today (Tuesday) wasn’t a team as hungry as they should have been,” he added.
Racing United faces financial hurdles as they prepare for Jamaica Premier League debut
Racing United FC, the newly promoted team to the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), is gearing up for their inaugural season in Jamaica's top-flight football competition. With the 2024 JPL season set to kick off on September 15, the team is working tirelessly to ensure they are ready to compete at the highest level, despite facing significant financial challenges.
Managed by Nigel Walker and coached by Anthony Patrick, Racing United has been in training since early July, focusing on getting their squad in peak condition ahead of the season opener. "The season is starting early this year on September 15, and we are pushing for full readiness. I can say right now we are at about 80 per cent readiness," Walker told Sportsmax.TV as he reflected on the team's commitment to being fully prepared.
Racing United secured their spot in the JPL by defeating Westmoreland-based Reno FC 2-1 on aggregate in the promotion playoffs, marking a significant achievement for the club. However, the transition from amateur to professional football has brought with it the need for greater financial resources. Walker highlighted that while the team is prepared on the field, securing the necessary funding for a more demanding and extended season remains a pressing concern.
"Our biggest challenge so far has been financial, as we are no longer an amateur team. Now in the premier league, it requires financial resources, and with this season being longer with three rounds, we need more support," Walker explained. The club is currently in discussions with potential sponsors, and Walker is optimistic about finalizing these talks soon.
To strengthen their squad, Racing United has been active in the transfer market, bringing in 10 new players with Premier League experience. Although the names of these players have not been officially released, as final details are still being worked out, Walker emphasized the importance of these signings. He credited Coach Patrick for his role in selecting players who will bring valuable experience and skill to the team.
Malta hosts holistic workshop to elevate development of local footballers
Recognizing how critically important it has become for local footballers to excel beyond just technical skills on the field of play, Malta, in partnership with Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL), hosted the “Malta Holistic Workshop” on Saturday, August 17, at The Summit in Kingston.
With a focus on enhancing physical fitness, proper nutrition, and fostering mental resilience, the brand’s initiative under the Malta Sparks campaign addressed key areas like balancing academics with athletics, conflict resolution, self-marketing, branding, and media management offering a well-rounded strategy for athletic growth.
“This workshop has provided me with valuable strategies to better support my son on his athletic journey, especially in managing stress and time—challenges he often encounters. I know a lot of other young athletes struggle with many of the focus areas today and so, I am truly inspired as a parent by this initiative,” said Sherridean Orridge, the mother of Romane Foster who plays for Jamaica Premier League club Portmore United.
“I know there was a nutrition session hosted about a month ago so I commend Malta and PFJL, for their exceptional work with our footballers, and I sincerely hope to see more initiatives like this in the future.”
The educational sessions engaged participants from four Premier League Clubs: Mount Pleasant Academy, Waterhouse FC, Portmore United, and Harbour View FC. The workshop featured session leaders, including veteran coach and Malta Brand Ambassador Neville Bell, Sports Teacher and Lifestyle Coach Krisneve Palmer, Sports Marketing Consultant Tanya Lee Perkins, Communications Expert Stacy-Ann Smith, and Sports Psychologist Dr. Olivia Rose.
“It was commendable to see both guardians and footballers participating in the workshop. This experience has provided athletes with a broader perspective on how to represent themselves, an aspect that is often overshadowed by the focus on athletic performance,” Owen Hill, CEO of Professional Football Jamaica Limited remarked.
“By investing in their holistic development, we are preparing our local football stars to excel not only on the national stage but also to present themselves as the best version of who they can be.”
Contributed:
Chief Executive Officer of Professional Football Jamaica Limited, Owen Hill, delivered a pep talk to Mount Pleasant Football Club footballers during the lunch break of the Malta Holistic Workshop, held at The Summit.
Kick-starting the event, Bell emphasized in his speech that discipline is the greatest asset a footballer can possess. The veteran coach highlighted that “discipline not only paves the way to success but also that—to be a great footballer, one must have the right attitude and a strong sense of self-worth”.
Adding to the discussion, Dr. Rose advised parents to create a safe environment and maintain open communication with coaches, noting that athletes thrive when they see the rewards of their hard work, which boosts their confidence.
Media Communication Consultant Stacy-Ann Smith helped the players improve on their communication skills through mock media-interview exercises and public speaking activities. This was complemented by Sports Marketing Consultant Tanya Lee Perkins, who offered tips on self-marketing and encouraged active social media engagement to build a solid personal brand.
The workshop concluded with Lifestyle Coach Palmer, who provided guidance on balancing academics and football and highlighted that education offers diverse career opportunities beyond sports.
"With this holistic workshop, we aimed to provide both guardians and athletes with an experience that offers practical ways to best care for their social and mental well-being, targeting multiple layers of growth and development. We must commend the guardians and coaches for being a part of this experience and for their continuous support,” said Malta Junior Brand Manager Cavell Robinson.
“As part of the Malta Sparks campaign, we plan to conceptualize more initiatives like this in the future. With this it is our hope that these young talents will blossom and develop in ways that will make us all proud."
Postecoglou keen to find Tottenham's clinical edge for first home game of the season
Ange Postecoglou is aiming to improve Tottenham's clinical edge as they chase their first win of the Premier League season against Everton on Saturday.
Spurs dominated the first half against Leicester City in their opener on Monday, but only left the King Power Stadium with a point after Jamie Vardy's equaliser in the 1-1 draw.
Postecoglou's side had 15 shots in that game, with seven of those on target, but only created 1.18 expected goals.
With Spurs aiming to challenge for a Champions League place this season, the Australian is keen to finetune their play in the final third sooner rather than later.
"Just really disappointed we lacked a little cutting edge in the front third, made some poor decisions, lacked some composure and didn't get the reward our football deserved," Postecoglou said.
"Everyone performed well, but ultimately that defeats the purpose of what we're trying to achieve and that's winning games of football and bridging the gap to the top teams.
"And the performance of the players in general was very, very good, but we need to turn those good performances into outcomes."
Meanwhile, Everton prop up the early standings in the league after a heavy 3-0 defeat to Brighton last weekend.
Ashley Young's red card compounded their misery as they struggled to test the Seagulls in the final third, but James Tarkowski is confident they can stamp out the mistakes to kick-start their season this weekend.
"It's not a reality check. We know the level of this league and how difficult it is," Tarkowski said. "You'll get punished if you make mistakes.
"The foundation which we build on – and we will continue to do – a lot of it was on show. Minor details will cost you in this league and we’ll see that."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tottenham – James Maddison
Against no side does James Maddison have more Premier League assists than he does against Everton (four), with each of his four against the Toffees coming in his last three appearances.
He is also off the mark for the season, having assisted Pedro Porro's opener in their 1-1 draw with Leicester last time out.
Everton – Jack Harrison
Despite Everton suffering a heavy defeat to Brighton in their Premier League opener, Jack Harrison was a bright spark for the Toffees.
He had the most shots (three), the most touches in the box (six) and completed the most successful dribbles (three) of anyone in the Everton side.
MATCH PREDICTION: TOTTENHAM WIN
Tottenham have won their first Premier League home match in five of the last six seasons, with the only exception being a 1-0 defeat to Everton in 2020-21.
However, Spurs have scored more Premier League goals against Everton both overall (102) and at home (63) than they have versus any other opponent.
After drawing their Premier League opener with Leicester, Spurs are looking to avoid not winning either of their first two games in a single campaign since 2015-16 (drew one, lost one).
Meanwhile, Everton have not won a Premier League game in the month of August in any of the last three seasons (drawn three, lost six), losing each of their last four such games without scoring. Their last such victory was in 2021 at Brighton (2-0).
Sean Dyche's side do not have the best record against teams from the capital, winning just three of their last 20 such top-flight matches (drawn six, lost 11), though those three wins all came consecutively between September and November last season.
After winning four consecutive Premier League away games between October and December last season, Everton are now winless in their last 11 on the road (drawn four, lost seven). Nine of those have come in 2024, leaving the Toffees as the only ever-present side over the two campaigns without an away win this calendar year.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Tottenham – 55.3%
Draw – 23%
Everton – 21.6%
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