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Speid hopes ‘top player’ Calvin will continue to shine
May 15, 2024
Cavalier forward Jalmaro Calvin has slowly and quietly made his way up the goal-scoring chart in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL).
Calvin's 16 goals puts him level with Tivoli's Justin Dunn and one behind leading scorer Javane Bryan of Waterhouse.
On Sunday, Calvin scored the third goal in Cavalier's 3-1 win over Arnett Gardens in their JPL semifinal second leg.
Cavalier's boss Rudolph Speid is happy that the striker has been flying under the radar and is not attracting much attention going into next Sunday's JPL Super final against defending champions Mount Pleasant at the National Stadium.
Nevertheless, Speid is hoping that the former Antigua and Barbuda under-20 player will continue to come up trumps for his team on the big occasion.
"That (last goal) was his 16th goal of the season, and 16 goals for a 20-year-old is very impressive," he said.
'He is a top, top player but people very rarely seem to notice him and that is good, we hope it continues like that. But he has scored some very important goals for us and I really hope he keeps going," Speid said.
He explained that although Calvin lived in Antigua for some years, he was born in Jamaica of Jamaican parents and is eligible to represent both nations.
"Jalmaro is a Jamaican. He was born in Jamaica but people keep referring to him as Antiguan. But he is eligible to play for our national team," he said.
Speid, who has led Cavalier to three of the last four JPL finals, said it would have been a disappointment if they didn't make the final again this season.
"If we (didn't make the final) we would have been disappointed. We worked towards it although we had a dip in form. It was difficult for us to lose a lot of games because of how we play and we always thought that we would get there although it was a bit harder than we thought. "
He also believes they have a stronger chance of reclaiming the title they won in in 2021 this year.
"I think so (reclaim the title). The team that played the final last year was very young. I think I have a team that is more mature now and we have as great a chance as anyone else," Speid said.
