Cavalier’s Marshall off to Greece - Speid: We have top- quality players ready to fill the breach
Cavalier’s star striker, Alex Marshall, left the island yesterday for a one- month trial stint with top-flight Greek club Aris Thessaloniki.
The 20-year-old Marshall, who has seven caps for the national team, has been in good form in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) competition this season, where he has netted eight goals and dished out six assists. Aris are currently third in the standings in Greece’s Super League.
The former St George’s College Manning Cup standout has joined Cavalier teammates Jamoi Topey and Nicque Daley in making overseas moves in the past month. Topey, a national Under-20 player and former Camperdown High School star, has secured a one-year loan with United Soccer League team Bethlehem Steel in the United States.
Daley, who led Clarendon College to last year’s daCosta Cup and Olivier Shield titles, has joined Chile’s top-flight club, Colo-Colo, on a six-week trial. Cavalier are currently tied for second with Waterhouse in the RSPL standings. Both teams have 48 points. Portmore United lead the league with 53.
Ready to fill breach
Rudolph Speid, technical director of Cavalier, said the absence of these players would not severely affect his team’s chances of winning the RSPL title this season.
“We played without them last Monday night, and it didn’t affect us because we beat Waterhouse 1-0,” said Speid.
“We have top-quality youngsters ready to fill the breach. Players like Dwayne Atkinson, Shaniel Thomas, and Ronaldo Webster are three of those players ready to step in for us,” said Speid.
“These players have been getting a lot of playing time, and they are quality players, but the players who are leaving are a little more experienced,” he said.
Speid added that his coaching staff had been working assiduously to ensure that these young players are properly prepared to deal with the rigours of the RSPL competition.
“It is for me and technical staff to go back and explain in detail what is required of these new players, and once we do that, then we should be able to manage. It will be harder, but these youngsters are ready and raring to go, and so we should be good for the rest of the season,” he said.