Assistant coach Shaw still eyes semi-final spot ... but wary of relegation scrap

Robert Bailey, Star Writer

Tivoli Gardens assistant coach Alvin Shaw has remained very optimistic that his team can still qualify for the Red Stripe Premier League semi-finals, despite finding themselves nine points adrift of fourth-place Arnett Gardens.

The west Kingston-based team, who have been having an up-and-down season so far, are currently in fifth place on 36 points, only by goal difference, ahead of Cavalier, nine points behind archrivals Arnett Gardens, with four rounds of matches remaining in the competition.

"It is going to be difficult, but it is still possible," said Shaw.

"Apart from trying to catch Arnett, we also have to be keeping an eye out to avoid regulation as well, because the bottom half of the table is tightly bunched," he said.

"We have to win all four games if we want to make it into the top four, and hope that other results go in our favour," Shaw said.

"I know that my players can do it, we just have to continue to work hard and continue believing that we can get the job done."

Tivoli, who are coming off a 3-1 defeat away to rivals Waterhouse in their last game, battle relegation-threatened Portmore United at the Edward Seaga Complex on Sunday. Shaw is convinced the game will be a difficult one.

"It will be a tough game because they are in a difficult spot, and so they will be playing very hard to avoid the drop," said Shaw.

"I am confident that we can get a good result, and so we just have to go out and execute our game plan and hope for the best," he added.

Shaw explained that this season has been one of the most difficult campaigns to date, with their record standing at nine wins, nine draws and 11 defeats.

"We are disappointed, but we can't stress on that, and just have to try and stay focused, because we still have a chance of getting to the semi-finals," said Shaw.

"At the end of the season, we have to evaluate and look at where we went wrong. But for now, we just have to continue to work hard and encourage our players to do their best," he said.