Arnett Gardens Head coach Xavier Gilbert continues to bask in the glow of his team’s recent CFU Club Shield triumph, which he believes, is not only a testament to their hard work, but also a significant boost for the club and the surrounding community.

In fact, Gilbert pointed out that the Club Shield win –a first for any Jamaican club –also provides a solid platform on which they will seek to build ahead of the upcoming Jamaica Premier League (JPL) and more importantly, the Concacaf Caribbean Cup.

The ‘Junglists’ wrapped up victory courtesy of Rushane Thompson’s all-important 73rd-minute strike against Grenades Football Club of Antigua and Barbuda in Curacao.

“It wasn’t easy, there were a lot of different challenges that we had to navigate during the tournament, but I think we handled ourselves pretty well. There are a lot of things that we have to work on heading into the other tournaments but I am happy with most things,” Gilbert told Sportsmax.TV.

“This victory augurs well for the club and the community. It has been a while since they won anything, so I am happy to bring a silverware to the club and I hope it’s the first of many because the aim is to continue on that vein in the upcoming competitions,” he added.

Reflecting on the knockout tournament in which they played four hard-fought games across nine days, Gilbert said their triumph was highlighted by tactical prowess, coupled with the unwavering hunger and determination of his players.

“I have to lift my hats off to the players, my staff and the medical team for the way they acquitted themselves. Four games in nine days was not easy, but the management staff did their part in putting the necessary things in place to ensure that life was a little easier for us while we were here,” he shared.

“So again, it (Shield win) is a reflection of the dedication of the players, the support of our fans, and the commitment of everyone involved with Arnett Gardens. It is a significant achievement that sets a positive tone in more ways than one. It brings a sense of joy and unity because it’s not just about the players on the field but also about the fans and everyone who supports the team. This triumph is for all of us,” he noted.

Looking ahead to the Jamaica Premier League and the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, Gilbert expressed optimism about their prospects. However, he is well aware that it will require continued hard work and significant improvements to prove competitive, particularly in the Caribbean up.

By virtue of topping the CFU Club Shield, Arnett Gardens will be placed in Group A of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup alongside fellow JPL outfits Cavalier and Mount Pleasant, as well as Haitian club Real Hope and Trinidad and Tobago’s Police FC.

“For sure. Winning the CFU Club Shield has given us the confidence and momentum we need. We know what we are capable of, and we are ready to take on the challenges ahead in the Premier League. Our aim is to ensure the players are well prepared to build on this success and continue to perform at a high level,” the tactician stated

“The Concacaf Caribbean Cup will be a different level of competition, and we have to be at our best. Again, we know we have the potential to compete with the best, and we are committed to working hard and improving our game,” Gilbert ended.

Arnett Gardens Head coach Xavier Gilbert was full of praise for his team following their emphatic 7-1 victory over CRKSV Jong Holland, which secured their spot in the semifinals of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Shield.

A hat-trick from the prolific Fabian Reid (5th, 45+1, 60th) was the platform for the Jamaican club’s lopsided victory over their Curacao counterparts at the Ergilio Hato Stadium in Willemstad on Tuesday.

Kimani Arbouine (82nd and 90th), Jaheim Thomas (9th), and substitute Rushike Kelson (70th) got the other goals for Arnett Gardens. Shurwendel Roosje (59th) got Jong Holland’s consolation.

It was an encounter that showcased Arnett Gardens' attacking prowess and tactical discipline, as the ‘Junglists’ took their opponents apart with clinical precision, much to the delight of their coach, who pointed out that it was a clear indication of their potential to achieve their primary objective of qualifying for the Concacaf Club Championships.

“Yeah, it was a good victory. I'm happy that we are in the semi-finals and one step away from the next round, which is objective,” Gilbert told Sportsmax.TV.

“We started off well, but I thought we could have been better because we allowed them some opportunities. Eventually, we settled in and controlled the entire game and we made some adjustments as it relates to what we needed to do to curtail the strengths coming forward, and we executed well for most parts. Winning 7-1 at this level is a great feat and so I have to lift my hat off to them,” he added.

Arnett Gardens survived an early wave of pressure, with goalkeeper Richard White called upon twice to deny the opponents in quick succession. However, when they settled, the Jamaicans dominated possession and created numerous scoring opportunities throughout the match.

Their fluid ball movements, coupled with their attacking quality, left Jong Holland’s defence in disarray, as it was a goalkeeping error that allowed Reid to break the deadlock with a firm finish from in the six-yard box.

Another defensive error saw Arnett Gardens double their lead four minutes later as Keneldo Brown picked up the loose ball and found Thomas, who made no mistakes.

Jong Holland also had their fair share of chances at the half-hour mark, but lacked composure in the final third, and were made to pay for their profligacy. This, as Reid grabbed his second with a well-taken finish in time, added to put Arnett Gardens 3-0 up at the break.

Jong Holland eventually pulled one back 14 minutes into the resumption when Roosje finished off a well-orchestrated counterattack.

However, their celebrations were short-lived, as Reid responded a minute later with another finish from close range to complete his hat-trick.

Kelson got in on the act shortly after entering the contest, with a tidy finish that left Jong Holland’s goalkeeper flat-footed.

Aubouine then wrapped things up for Arnett Gardens with two quick goals, the first of which was a well-struck right-footer that gave Jong Holland’s custodian no chance at a save.

He then secured the brace with an easy finish, making amends for a previous strike that was ruled offside.

Gilbert believes his team’s win came down to pre-game preparation, where they identified their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.

“We scouted them, and so we knew what they were coming at us with. Unfortunately, we just didn't start the execution of that plan as early as possible, but eventually we got it right, and it paid dividends. We could have won by a wider margin because we created way more opportunities, so that is something we will have to look at going forward,” Gilbert reasoned.

With Friday’s semi-final clash with Club Atlético Pantoja, who were 1-0 winners over Puerto Rico’s Metropolitan FC, looming, Gilbert stressed the need for his team to remain grounded.

“Our goal has always been to make it to the Concacaf Club Championships. This victory is a significant step towards that, but we know there's still work to be done. We need to stay focused and continue playing at this level,” the tactician noted.

“We have a talented squad with the right mentality, so if we keep playing with the same intensity and commitment, I'm confident we can achieve our goal. But we're taking it one game at a time; the semi-finals will be another tough test, so we’ll ensure we're ready for that hurdle,” Gilbert ended.