AFTER A slow start to the defence of both their Concacaf Caribbean Cup (CCC) and Jamaica Premier League (JPL) titles, Cavalier registered their first win of the season in four attempts, after a 3-2 win over Arnett Gardens at Sabina Park on Monday.
The JPL champions remain unbeaten in the domestic league with a win and a draw, but, in the CCC, they are flirting with elimination, as they sit second from bottom with just one point from two matches, in the five-team group.
Cavalier coach Rudolph Speid believes the three-week period between CCC games will give them a good opportunity to get things right before their next match against Defence Force of Trinidad on September 17.
“It has been a slow burn. It’s going to take a little while. From our first championship in 2021, we only have five players left from that squad.
“So the team that we have is a new team. The fragments that are left is not enough to carry over what that team had, into this season.
“So it’s a rebuilding process. Although it is always a rebuilding process for me. But this one is the toughest one,” he said.
“However, we have had a lot of practice (rebuilding). But we need to get these young boys up to date, and we are working on it.
“So I am glad for the time to work things out. Our (CCC) qualification depends on the next game. If we don’t win, we more than likely will not go through.
“So I am glad for the time between the (CCC) games. I am just sorry the Premier League didn’t start before we played the first game, because we played the first game without even one Premier league game, and that wasn’t good for us,” he stated.
In their first three matches across all competitions, Cavalier netted just one goal, raising concerns about the team’s offence.
In their win over Arnett, they got three goals, a brace from Denzel McKenzie and another from Jamoy Dennis.
However, Speid maintained that they have been creating chances and only need to be more clinical.
“We are hoping to (score more goals). Our frontline is now an unrecognisable front three. We have a few young players that came in like Odain Wilberforce, Jamoy Dennis. So we have some young firepower. But how they take to the league might be a little uncertain.
“But we have two (JPL) games before we play again in the Caribbean Cup and I am optimistic. But it’s going to take a lot of work. We have three weeks to work, and, as the going gets tough, the tough gets going.
“We haven’t scored in the games we have played, but we have gotten chances. We’re just not putting them away. We are hoping (Shaquille) Stein gets back to his goalscoring ways. But we have new players with potential. So, offensively, we are good. We have missed a lot of chances, even missed a penalty. So it is just a matter of clicking. So I am not worried,” he stated.
Nevertheless, Speid is pleased with the way Cavalier have applied themselves defensively, but insists it is up to this new group of players to create their own legacy.
“Our defence has been strong, which is a hallmark of our game. We have changed how we play and we have been getting some success. And, for that (Defence Force) game, we hope all our players will be back by that time. And, once we are fit and ready, we should give a good account of ourselves.
“I think we have a decent team. But that first dynasty is now done and these players will have to build their own dynasty,” he said.
