Photo: Fabian Reid scored all three goals for Arnett Gardens when they got by Montego Bay United in the quarterfinal round of the Red Stripe Premier League and they will take on the regualr season champions Humble Lion at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex tonight starting at 8:00pm.
Arnett Gardens last won the Red Stripe Premier League two seasons ago and after overcoming an inauspicious regular season where they just managed to claim the last quarter final spot, the “Junglists” are now mentally ready to go all the way.
They defeated the defending champions Montego Bay United 3-2 on aggregate to advance to the semifinals where they will face regular season champions Humble Lion starting today and Fabian Reid says that the team is ready to continue their quest for silverware.
Reid scored all three quarterfinal goals for Arnett Gardens and credits his good form to hard work whilst backing his team to lift the premier league trophy later this month.
:”It is all due to hard work. At the start of the season I wasn’t doing so well so I started working harder. I was playing midfield before and then they decided that I would play forward so I decided I would just do my best this round,” Reid said of his current form in front of goal.
“The converted midfielder also expressed his delight at finding the winner against Mobay United. “I was very happy to get that second goal against Montego Bay United because I worked very hard for it and deserve it. I really want this championship so I go out there and do it,” he stated.
Like his teammates, Reid is convinced that Humble Lion is beatable.
“We have this one covered, we are going to do it this time. I am going to go out there and do my best and hope it pays off. The team spirit is well high, everybody is training and working hard so we know we are going to do it,” he proclaimed.
The Arnett Gardens captain Oneil Thompson is also brimming with confidence ahead of tonight’s clash.
“We started the season wanting to win the title again. Every game that we play we want the three points and it was the same feeling when we faced Montego Bay. It called for more focus than prevous games based on the situation because it’s a knock out game, but away from that we prepared ourselves well. There is never a seson that finished that we haven’t beaten Montego Bay.
Thompson believes that it may be a case of deja vu for his team against favourites Humble Lion.
“There are a lot of things that repeat themselves when you have won the league. We played against Humble Lion on Mother’s Day the last time we won the league. It’s obvious that the fixtures will be like that again. We have played against them here before. They are very strong, we know that, but we are also strong so we are looking forward to an exciting game and we always try to figure out a way to beat our opponents.
Arnett Gardens head coach, Jerome Waite is under no illusions of what to expect from Humble Lion but he too is voicing confidence
“It will be a tough game. As you all know they are the number one team and they wil be up against tthe number six team. Despite the rankings it doesn’t mean the number one team will prevail because on the day both teams have to come and perform. We expect the Humble Lion team to come roaring because they had the better of play in all the games that we have played, but it’s a different ball game and it will be “rumble in the jungle”, Waite assured.
“The team has stepped up more than two notches so we expect to continue the winning ways. The captain has shown his class, not only as the leader but in terms of his performance and it is something that the players always look forward to,” said a confident Waite.
The first leg of the semifinal will begin at 8:00pm at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex and will be live on television.
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