Defending Jamaica Premier League (JPL) champions and Concacaf Caribbean Cup (CCC) finalists Cavalier and Mount Pleasant meet in a big clash today when the Caribbean Cup kicks off at Sabina Park. Match time is 5 p.m.
Both teams have been placed in Group A alongside Arnett Gardens, Real Hope of Haiti, and Police FC from Trinidad and Tobago. Over the last three seasons Cavalier and Mount Pleasant have had some epic encounters, especially at the play-off stage of the JPL. Cavalier have won one semi-final and a final against the St Ann club over the period, while Mount Pleasant have registered one final victory over Cavalier.
Mount Pleasant sporting director Paul Christie admits the rivalry is getting more intense each season, and after the losses mentioned above, Christie said they intend to even the score with a victory today. “The rivalry between Mount Pleasant and Cavalier is very close. You are not able to separate the teams.
That is how thin the line is. “The advantage Cavalier have is, they have 85 per cent of their core. Mount Pleasant have a newly assembled technical staff, who need time to get the chemistry.
“However, we do not have that luxury. We have to hit the ground running, because we are not in the business of excuses, and the technical staff will be judged on one thing only and that is results,” he said. In the off season, Mount Pleasant cleared house and added new names likes Alex Marshall, Jashuan Anglin, Nicholas Nelson and the Cavalier pair of Kyle Mi.