TOP flight football returns to Ferdie Neita Park after a nine-year absence as Portmore United host Arnett Gardens in the marquee matchup of the 15th round of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL). Match time is 3:00 pm.

Ferdie Neita Park, based in Portmore, St Catherine, had been out of commission since 2014, but team General Manager Clive Marshall told the Jamaica Observer that the facility is now “refreshed”.

“Prior to COVID [2019] we started renovation, and the only thing at that time was the upgrading of the lights. But, we have refurbished and expanded the changing rooms; refreshed and painted the stands; and resurfaced the playing field,” said Marshall.

Plans are also afoot to have extra stands behind the goals, plus the perimeter fencings have been improved along with the entrance to the park.

“We will be looking at a much more accommodating VIP area with an improved capacity from 2,500 to 5,000,” he noted.

So, with that in mind, Portmore United will be hoping for a triumphant return to their home but will have their hands full against an in form Arnett Gardens team hunting their fourth-consecutive win.

Portmore United are seventh on 18 points while Arnett Gardens are second on 27 points. The last time both teams met was in November when the game ended 1-1.

Veteran striker Fabian Reid, sitting third in the goalscoring chart on seven goals, is expected to lead the Arnett Gardens charge along with Shai Smith, Ajuma Johnson, Damari Deacon, Earl Simpson and Marlon Allen.

Portmore, with only three wins to their name from 14 games, are struggling for goals, having netted only 11 times all season. But they remain a tough team to break down and have lost only twice while drawing nine games.

When a defender, Emelio Rousseau, is the team’s joint top scorer along with Javick McFarlene on three goals, that tells a story. However, it won’t be an easy game for Arnett Gardens, and with the expected excitement of playing at home, Portmore United might just clinch it.

Meanwhile there will be four other games on Sunday, with a double-header at Drax Hall in which leaders Mount Pleasant (31 points) take on fifth-place Harbour View (22) at 3:15 pm.

In the first encounter at 1:00 pm, sixth-place Dunbeholden (19 points) tackle the struggling Faulkland FC who are down in 13th spot on seven points.

The Theodore Whitmore-coached Mount Pleasant have been the most consistent team in the JPL, and it is no surprise they are leading by four points. They have lost just once all season and might just be too hot for Harbour View.

Last season’s beaten finalists Dunbeholden will be hoping to end their two-game losing streak and are strongly fancied to get the better of a Faulkland FC side really struggling to make their mark in the league. Dunbeholden won their first encounter 2-0.

At Effortville Community Centre in Clarendon, fourth-place Humble Lions on 24 points can leapfrog the inactive Cavalier with a win over Molynes United in 11th spot on 15 points.

Humble Lions are a veteran team with a lot of experienced players , and they should prove too hot for Molynes United still finding their feet.

Former champions Waterhouse, in eighth spot on 18 points, welcome a Montego Bay United outfit in 10th spot on 17 points to Drewsland.

Waterhouse will be on a revenge mission having lost 0-1 to Montego Bay in their first encounter, and with the home crowd behind them, they are favoured to win.

There will be the usual double-header on Monday at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex as Chapelton Maroons tackle Tivoli Gardens at 5:00 pm before Cavalier take on Vere United at 7:30 pm.