- RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Rivoli United's Ricardo Knight (left) tackles Village United's Fabian Dawkins in their Wray and Nephew National Premier League match at Prison Oval on Sunday. The teams ended 0-0.
Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
RIVOLI UNITED have found a new thrust with the return of their former coach, Harold Thomas, who has so far had a win and a draw in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League, against quality opposition.
Playing with a man down on both occasions, Rivoli have shown good fight and the ability to play good football in patches. But can Thomas be expected to fill the very big shoes of veteran Bradley Stewart, who is arguably one of the best local coaches in the business?
Speaking to Thomas after his 0-0 draw with Village on Sunday, he admitted that Stewart was a good coach and that his shoes would be hard to fill.
"Rivoli have always had a good crop of players. The previous coach did a very good job with them," he said, commenting on Stewart's legacy.
LARGELY INSTRUMENTAL
Thomas though, who was largely instrumental in their flight from the St. Catherine domestic leagues to the premier league, does think that he can bring something else to the mix with a team that has made it a habit of being one of the top teams in Jamaica's top league.
"They have lost their focus a little bit so we are trying to refocus them and get them to return to the days of playing attractive, attacking football," said Thomas.
"Football is football. What we have to do is try to get the best out of the players and that is my challenge ... and that is not a difficult job to do," he added.
"The players understand that this is a semi-professional setting and what they put in is what they'll get out and they have been putting in somewhat, but there is a lot of room for improvement, but we'll get there," Thomas explained optimistically.
The change in attitude that Thomas speaks about will come from personnel taking responsibility for their actions.
"People have to become responsible for their action and the coach will have to take responsibility solely for the outcome of the team," Thomas explained.
Given Rivoli's quality, the fans are anxiously waiting to see what Thomas has to offer.
