Bermuda prepare for tough test
included in a line-up with several other prominent local players when Wavers Football Club entertain Bermuda at the Little Wembley ground today (6 p.m.
Bermuda time).
Mweke has been recruited by the team who, along with a club in Kingston, will soon be making its debut in the new Caribbean Professional Soccer League.
Wavers are expected to pose the Bermuda team plenty of concern because of the top talent they will turn out, including striker Paul Davis who put Jamaica ahead in their 1-1 draw with Bermuda at National Stadium in September.
Davis was also the scorer in the other game at the stadium when Jamaica beat league champions Boulevard 1-0.
In addition to being hard-pressed to cope with the great ability of Davis, Bermuda will face other key national team members such as midfielder Hector Wright, Winston Anglin and defender Linzol Wilson who may be Sunday's skipper.
Wavers also have a solid coaching staff, comprising of the top coaches of club teams in the western end of Jamaica -- headed by Wendell Downswell who has coaching certificates from England and Germany.
For the new pro league, the Wavers have assembled players from four major clubs in the Montego Bay Area -- champions Wadadah, Seba, Violet Kickers and Reno.
Osca Hall, an executive of the Jamaica Football Federation, said that this would be the first official game for Wavers and stressed that they were indeed formidable opponents for Bermuda.
"In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they prove to be stronger than our own national team,'' he said. "They have been training hard since the squad was chosen and have done absolutely nothing but prepare for soccer.'' Wavers are expected to play their first pro game in Trinidad and Tobago in two weeks and view the Bermuda game as being a vital warm-up for their opening clash.
Hall said that the majority of Wavers' players have been in the national squad and five may play on Sunday.
But Bermuda manager Gary Darrell must be concerned about getting his players adjusted to the torrid heat and high humidity here.
When the team arrived the temperature was in the high 80s where it remained throughout their first training session in the afternoon.
The Little Wembley ground is indeed little, but the size should not affect Bermuda as it resembles the ground at Berkeley School where they train regularly.
There certainly is not anything elaborate about the facility though. In fact the ground may be a trifle smaller than Berkeley with seating for a few hundred.
The surface appears hard and the lack of grass in some areas may concern manager Darrell.
Some of the players who have visited Jamaica with the Bermuda Regiment are familiar with the ground, including striker Kyle Lightbourne.
"It is a small pitch that's for sure,'' said Lightbourne as he boarded a mini bus in the afternoon for a workout at Little Wembley.
Darrell was forced to delay the team's first training session after the they arrived late from New York, where they spent the night.
The game has been well publicised and a good crowd is expected according to local officials.
KYLE LIGHTBOURNE -- Looking forward to Little Wembley date.
