INADVERTENTLY, the Sporting Central Academy goalkeeper was a major accomplice, but Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson didn’t mind.

He had just scored the goal that would eventually put Waterhouse into the semi-finals of the Flow Champions Cup.

At the end of the day, that was all that really mattered.

Today, his fans continue to lavish him with praise. For once again, he came to Waterhouse’s rescue when they needed him the most. That he was virtually ineffective for most of the game will be nothing but a suppressed memory in the back of their minds.

They might even argue that that’s the hallmark of a true goalscorer: He flies below the radar until the appointed time. Some might even suggest that it wasn’t even the appointed time; he created the goal out of nothing.

As he readied himself to let fly from some 40-yards out, even his teammates were urging him not to take the shot.

“TUFFY, DON’T SHOOT!” they bellowed. “DON’T SHOOT!”

Tuffy didn’t listen. He only had eyes for the goal. And, as an out-of-position Gerald Eastwood flapped at the ball, which flew into the top right hand corner of his cage, the celebrating Waterhouse players mobbed their hero.

On another day, with a more focused goalie between the sticks, Tuffy might not have scored. He’s been around long enough to know that eight out of 10 times the ‘keeper will make the save, or he’ll completely miss the target. But even the thought of missing wouldn’t have stopped him from trying his luck. That’s what sets Tuffy, age 34, apart from his fellow centre-forwards on the local scene.

While they are waiting for the perfect opportunity to score the perfect goal, he’s simply trying to put the ball into the net — by whatever means. Be it with a pile driver, a faint — almost unexpected — touch off his favoured left foot, or a scrambled effort ricocheting off his body.

In that October 3 quarter-final, for at least 65 of the 90+ minutes, Sporting were the better team — even Waterhouse coach Junior Francis conceded that his players were second best for long spells. But what they lacked was a centre-forward in the mold of Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson.

Without a flicker of a doubt, all five of Sporting’s main attacking players — Francois Swaby, Cornelius Henry, Richard Reid, Gregory Lewis, and Jamoly Powell — were (are) more technically adept than Tuffy. They are fleet-footed, tricky and got into better goalscoring positions. But, unlike Tuffy, they were indecisive.

Tuffy is an Alpha male. He’s not only big and strong; he’s confident and knows that it’s his job to provide for the flock. He’s not daunted by the weight of this responsibility, either. In fact, he thrives on the idea that he’s the man in charge. He literally begs to be given the job.

“I might not have the skills, but mi born fi score goals. That is my talent weh God give mi,” said Anderson a while back. “Mi know seh mi can contribute to the national programme and do a good job for the team. But mi just a leave things up to God and hope that when my time come mi grab the opportunity.”

That was Tuffy pleading his case to be included in the Reggae Boyz squad for the just-concluded World Cup qualifiers. With that chance come and gone, his focus now lies on Waterhouse’s hunt for silverware on the local scene, starting with the Flow Champions Cup final against Tivoli Gardens.

Tonight’s contest will replicate the popular Red Stripe Football Mondays, of which Tuffy is the undisputed star. Fittingly, too, the game will not only be screened live on television, it will also be held at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex — said by many to be “the spiritual home” of Monday night football.

What better stage than this for Tuffy to remind his fans, old and new, just how much of a colourful character he is?