Resurgent Reno to take it slow
FROME, Westmoreland — After one year of Confederation League football former champions Reno FC return to the Digicel Premier League when they host Portmore United at the Frome Sports Complex.
While the objective for most new or returning clubs is to secure their places for the next season, Reno’s president Ransford Malcolm say they have ambitions of doing more than just surviving.
The realistic expectations, he said, are to “push for a place in the first End-of-Round Final, stay in the four in the second round and in the third round we hope to be contenders”.
Malcolm thinks they have the talent at Reno to be champions as the core of the current squad has been together for three years and have a good understanding of each other.
Reno were relegated form the DPL two years ago but sailed through the Western Confederation Super League unbeaten, then returned to the DPL at the first time of asking.
The Westmoreland outfit will have some experience as former national utility player Nicolay Findlayson returns after a one-year loan spell at Waterhouse.
Fabian Blake, who missed most of last season with work commitments, is also back, while the USA-based O’Brian Woodbine will join the team after his United States Soccer League obligations are fulfilled.
Goalkeeper Dennis Taylor, who was recently named MVP of the Confed League, will anchor the defence that gave up seven goals in 22 games, while Sheldon Bryan, who scored 11 goals in eight games after transferring from Invaders last year, is expected to lead the attack.
While they will play most games at Frome, Malcolm said that because of the good relationship they have with the St Elizabeth community over the years, they are hoping to play at least two home games at the St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex this season.
Wendell Downswell will be the team’s technical director, but Patrick Graham, who captained the team last year, will be an assistant and will also be in charge of the Under-21 team.