Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer

AS FAR as the Wray and Nephew Premier League is concerned, Jarrett Park will be the centre of attention this afternoon with a double-header.

In the opening encounter at 5:00 p.m., second from bottom Seba United will host Trelawny rivals Village United while Wadadah will host red-hot Reno at 7:00. What makes this double-header particularly interesting is the fact that Seba United will be playing their first match since the departure of former national coach Geoffrey Maxwell. In Maxwell's place will be former national midfielder Theodore Whitmore in his second stint as player/coach.

Under Maxwell, Seba started well before fizzling out due mainly to a lack of firepower and defensive frailties and it will be of great interest to see how Whitmore rallies the troops. His task will not be an easy one.

"We are optimistic but it is not the kind of start that I would have wanted as we have about six key players out due to injury and cards so we will have to promote a number of players from the Under-21s," Whitmore said yesterday. "With that you know it will be tough but we have to go out there and give of our best," he said.

Among the players who will be missing are Iton Scott, Delroy Ellis, Sean McNish, Delroy Ellis, Damian Williams and Norman Woolery. If Whitmore had any plan of running things from the bench then that will have to be quickly dismissed.

"Based on the fact that these senior players will be missing, I have no choice but to go out there and play," Whitmore said, while laughing off the suggestion that he will probably take up the captain's armband as well.

On the other hand, Village United, who are giving up their home advantage as the match was due to be played at Elliston Wakeland Centre, are coming off a heavy 5-0 whipping at the hands of Reno.

Carrying injuries

"It will be tough as we are carrying a few injuries to regular players, but we are hoping that they will be ready. We have had good training sessions since the Reno game so I think they will be up to the task if this attitude is carried over," said assistant coach Cassman Williams.

The Reno loss, he said, should be a motivating factor for his players, but it will take more than motivation to overcome the loss of Edward Campbell, Troy Smith and Jamie Ramsay to Jamaica Under-20 duty and the possibility of not having Newton Sterling and Everett Mullings who are injured.

Wadadah are currently the better placed of the two St. James teams, but they, too, are far from comfortable and only last week were thrashed 5-1 by Arnett Gardens. They will need to be at their best to keep off the hungry Reno who have worked their way up to third in the table.

In Daniel Ricketts, Rohan Reid and Jermaine Anderson, Wadadah have good players, but they will need a lot of support to counter the likes of Kendrie Quarrie, Fabian Blake, Gary McIntosh, Kirk Wright and Ricardo Scott as well as goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr.

In other games, leaders Waterhouse will have to play far better than they did against August Town last week to get the better of a Tivoli Gardens team which appears to be finding a rhythm, while Boys' Town should defeat Naggo Head who, barring a miracle, will play in a lower league next season. Portmore United, behind Reno on goal difference, should handle August Town, especially with their confidence level rising and players getting healthier.

The game between second-place Harbour View and Arnett Gardens has been rescheduled due to the former's involvement in the Caribbean Club Championships.

TODAY'S GAMES