Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

Defending champions Tivoli Gardens will play Harbour View in the quarterfinals of the all-island Red Stripe Champions Cup Knockout on Thursday.

The draw took place at Cuddyz Sports Bar in New Kingston yesterday.

In the other three all-premier league clashes on Thursday, Portmore will tackle Wadadah, August Town host Village and Waterhouse take on either Naggo Head or Boy's Town.

Brian Rose, manager of Tivoli Gardens, is aware his team will have their hands full in containing the top team in the country.

Said Rose: "It's a draw and there is nothing I can do about it. We have to make the guys realise that they are up against the top team in the island right now and motivate them to go out there and play some good football."

He continued: "As defending champions and going into the final eight, I know that we will encounter a tough team. To be a true champion you have to go out there and defend your title and what better way to do it than playing a very tough team."

Fans in for a special treat

Carlo Redwood, group marketing manager, Red Stripe, said football fans will be in for a special treat from now until the final.

Said Redwood: "We are committed to providing a complete entertainment experience for all the fans that come out to the matches for the remainder of the season."

He continued: "We can promise everyone that there will be lots in store, from the music, live artistes and prizes, to the exciting and competitive football being played.

The semi-final round will take place at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium on March 25 and April 8.

Football fans in attendance on both days can look forward to top-class knockout football and entertainment from the likes of Barrington Levy, Tony Matterhorn, Leftside & Esco and Renaissance Disco.

Crenston Boxhll, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), said his organisation "is very pleased with the partnership that we have forged for the third year of the Red Stripe competition."

Everybody benefits

He added: "With the plans of our media partners SportsMax and CVM to broadcast in Jamaica, the U.S.A. and Canada, Jamaica's football and indeed the players will surely benefit. I congratulate Red Stripe for the creativity that they are bringing to Jamaica's football."

There will be dual TV coverage of both semi-final matches as well as the final, by SportsMax and CVM-TV, with a delayed broadcast of the final, shown on SportsMax's partner channel, Fox Soccer Channel (Jamaica). This will allow the semi-final and the final to be seen by audiences in the U.S.A. and Canada.

Send comments to howard.walker@gleanerjm.com