Sport

Nodley Wright, Gleaner Writer

While most eyes and ears will be focused on Digicel Premier League debutants Benfica of St Ann and the returning Reno of Westmoreland, defending champions Harbour View will have the most to prove on the opening day of the 2010/2011 season.

The defending champions will have to fend off the challenge of the team hoping to be Jamaica's 'Real Madrid', Humble Lion. Coach Donovan Hayles is of the opinion that his team will take about four or five games to be physically ready and he could be right.

Despite winning the Claro Champions League a week ago, the defending champions, at times, were bettered by Boys' Town and, had it not been for faulty shooting, could have found themselves trailing heavily at the end of the first half. In terms of a matchup between the two teams last season, Humble Lion, who finished just above the drop zone, had the better of the champions, winning one of their three encounters and drawing the other two, both at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium.

More mature players

To their credit, Harbour View should have the services of the now more mature Marcelino Blackburn, Kavin Bryan, as well as national representatives Dickoy Williams and Richard Edwards. If Jermaine Hue is available, it will be a bonus.

For their part, Humble Lion will have the services of former national goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers, who is still one of the best in the country, Kimroy Davis, Denzil Watson, Tyrone Sawyers, Carl Wiggan, Jermaine Christian and the exciting young wing back Kenny Lee to call on. While they may not be 'galacticos', coach Christopher Bender expects them to do a job for him.

Reno Football Club, after a short while in the wilderness, could not have hoped for a better situation in which to face Portmore United who, like themselves, are former champions. The St Catherine-based club has done what amounts to house cleaning by getting rid of no fewer than 15 experienced players, including former club captain Anthony Modeste, Kevin Deer, once the darling of the club, and two of the Wolfe brothers - Wolry and Kemeel. Of their new acquisitions, Alonzo Adlam catches the eye most.

O'Brian Woodbine

Expected to line up for the Westmoreland team are national representative O'Brian Woodbine; Nicholi Findlayson, who has returned from Waterhouse; Evan Taylor; Davion Thorpe; and Jamaica youth international goalkeeper Dennis Taylor. If they manage to get the services of Gary McIntosh, who represented Portmore United last season, then their goal-scoring ability will be improved. Coach Wendell Downswell will be banking on home advantage and hope that Portmore's youngsters do not start well.

Premier League newbies Benfica will not have an easy ride, despite the fact that they are staying at home. Their opponents Tivoli Gardens must still be smarting from their failure to retain the League last season after poor performances in the last round saw them dethroned by Harbour View. They have a quality forward in last season's most valuable player (MVP) Navion Boyd. Keammar Daley showed that he is ready to fight for a place in the national set in the Claro Champions League and, should he report in similar form, Benfica could have a fiery welcome.

Home advantage and the presence of the consistent Je-Vaughn Williams should not be enough for Sporting Central to keep Waterhouse at bay, providing the latter are able to take advantage of the many goal-scoring chances they will create.

Acquiring Fabian Dawkins from August Town appears to be the best bit of business that Arnett Gardens have done in a long while. His inclusion, along with those of Daniel Shaw and Kirk Ramsay - all veterans - may not be enough to see them challenge for the title, but should make them competitive against Village United.

Village United finished well last season, but will need more than Teafore Bennett to carry the fight with Troy Smith and Dino Williams.

For most of last season, Boys' Town and St Georges battled for fourth position in the League, with St Georges getting the edge. With the loss of veterans Oneil McDonald, Marvin Morgan Sr and Fabian Watkins, Boys' Town have indicated that they are retooling, but Peter Keyes and Shawn McKoy would still have been more than useful to them.

Vancouver Whitecaps' loss is St Georges' gain as the talented former Jamaica youth captain Dever Orgill has an eye for goal - something the team's strike force could have benefitted from last season. Should Orgill take the field, the Boys' Town defence could have a torrid time and it could take more than Anthowe Dawkins to contain him.

Today's games

1. 3:30 p.m.: Benfica vs Tivoli Gardens - Drax Hall
2. 3:30 p.m.: Boys Town vs St. Georges - Boys Town
3. 6 p.m.: Harbour View vs Humble Lion - Harbour View Stadium
4. 3:30 p.m : Reno vs. Portmore United - Frome
5. 3:30 p.m.: Sporting Central vs Waterhouse - Brancourt
6. 3:30 p.m.: Village United vs. Arnett Gardens - Elliston Wakeland Centre