It’s the playoffs

It's crunch time in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), with the first legs of the playoffs quarterfinals taking place this evening at the National Stadium, starting at 5 p.m.

In the first game, first-time qualifiers Racing United take on seven-time champions Portmore United while in the feature game at 7:30 p.m., defending champions Cavalier go up against Waterhouse.

Cavalier finished sixth in the regular season, qualifying only on the last day after a dramatic come-from-behind win over relegated Harbour View.

Despite having a below-par season, assistant coach David Laylor believes their young players have come to the fore and are ready to put up a stout defence of their crown.

"Really one of our toughest seasons. We have been struggling. Quite a bit of players left us, and we started rebuilding with these youngsters. 

"These youngsters, throughout the season, have toughened up. They are maturing and they are stepping up. So they are getting ready for the big league," he stated.

"We have some quality youngsters. Even if we believe we have overachieved, the coaching staff have got the youngsters to this point. We have managed well, and now we expect better."

"Waterhouse are one of our toughest opponents this season. Waterhouse have also been doing some adjustments and rebuilding themselves.

“We played against them in the season and they really look good. 

"So coming up against this Waterhouse team, we have to put our best foot forward. They have the quality, but the youngsters are ready. They have the grit to stick it out and fight to the end."

After changing coaches mid-season, Waterhouse have risen to become a real title threat. Coach Javier Ainstein is well aware of Cavalier’s winning tradition and is not taking them lightly.

He believes it will be important for his team to control possession and not get into a transition match with the opponents.

"We know that the quality of the team and coach we are facing. They have a lot of experience winning semi-finals and finals. We need to recognise first this.

"We need to take care with their strengths and take advantage of their weaknesses, and at the same time, do our style of play that carried us to the playoffs. 

"We are a team with good possession and an order to defend. For me it's important to control the game with possession and not follow the transition of the opponents.

"This is not the game I want. We need to control the game, the ball, and the time," he said.

However, he believes victory will be largely dependent on his players and how much they want the win.

"It's important to manage set pieces. Cavalier, so good at set pieces, but the top players who played such a relevant level during the season, Denardo Thomas, Ky-mani Campbell, Colorado Murray, Omani Leacock, the centrebacks, it depends on them if we can get the glory or not. 

"I want these players to get the glory.  It's a moment of truth. We need to decide to get it. It's a moment to win," he said.

After only two seasons in the topflight, Racing have qualified for their first playoff and coach Anthony Patrick is hoping they can upstage their more decorated opponents and try to take their season a step further.

"It (first playoffs qualification) means a lot. In 2017 when I took charge and brought in the youngsters and played in the St Catherine division two, and we went on from there.

"This squad is the base of that team. Ten of them are here. I am happy they stuck with the club, and we hope it bears some more fruits," he said.

"Both (clubs) are Portmore, St Catherine, teams. It's going to be an interesting and a tough one. 

"The Portmore team is very rounded, like the Racing team, but they have more depth with international experience.

"It will come down to the head space of the players and how disciplined we play, but we are here to play. We are not here to fool around. We will give it our best," he said.

Portmore and coach Rodolph Austin, known for their defensive strengths, will start favourites. They will be led up front by former Reggae Boy Cory Burke

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Today’s Games

Racing vs Portmore – 5 p.m.

Cavalier vs Waterhouse – 7:30 p.m.

Games to be played at the National Stadium

Caption: Cavalier’s captain, Jeovani Laing (right),  will be the man the team will depend on to keep things together in the battle of their lives.

Caption: Waterhouse coach, Javier Ainstein knows exactly the dangers of facing the defending champions.