BATTLE lines have been drawn, but the coaches for three-times defending champions Frazsiers Whip FC and Arnett Gardens FC are showing tonnes of respect for each other as they head into today’s final of the Jamaica Women’s Premier League at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, set to kick off at 5:30 pm.

The teams are coming off convincing semi-final wins, Frazsiers Whip beating Real Mona 6-1 on aggregate and Arnett Gardens getting by Los Perfectos 8-3 to set up today’s decider, which promises top-quality football.

The teams will come into the final with season-long unbeaten records but on paper, the champions should start favourites, despite drawing 1-1 in their return leg semi-finals after winning the first game 5-0.

At the start of the season, Frazsiers Whip’s coach Courtney Dowdie had told the Jamaica Observer he had expected “some difficulties” given the high turn over of players from last season’s all-conquering team but the machine has continued to produce, as they dominated once again.

He is not expecting an easy game today and told the Jamaica Observer yesterday, “It is still step by step and we are coming to play good football. Arnett Gardens is a good team and we can’t take anything for granted.”

Dowdie said despite fielding six players, who had made their JWPL debuts this season, they are still approaching the contest with full conviction.

“We have the same confidence in this team that we had in last year’s team,” Dowdie said. “We are focussed on us, not on the other team, we have to play the way we want.”

So far Frazsiers Whip have had their way with all they have faced, scoring over 70 goals including both games in the semi-finals with Christine Salmon, Shanel Spence and captain Nevillegail Able combining for 54 strikes.

They are as adept at the back, with only five goals allowed over the 12 games they have played so far and Arnett Gardens’ coach Garnett Lawrence admitted that he has not seen any vulnerability in the Frazsiers Whip team.

After getting to the semi-finals last year, and losing to Cavalier SC, Lawrence says they have what it takes to end the run by Frazsiers Whip but says they must play smart and wait for their chances.

“We are better than last year,” Lawrence told the Jamaica Observer. “We have to pick our moments and we can’t get flustered, we have to create our own chances as we can’t expect them to give us anything.”

Arnett Gardens had also topped their zone in the first round, only dropping points in a 1-1 draw against Cavalier in the first round and had scored 46 goals and conceded five all season long, showing that they will not be pushovers.

Shikira Douglas led the South St Andrew-based team with 18 goals while Tuanashae Hamilton backed her up with six goals of her own.

Lawrence said his players have to show that they want to win.

“We have to bring that same hunger that we have shown in the semi-finals and fight for every thing,” Lawrence said.

He said that having played in the last three finals and despite bringing in new players, the Frazsiers Whip team are experienced at this stage of the competition, “they know how to win, they have what it takes.”

Organisers, Professional Women’s Football Jamaica Limited had selected the venue well ahead of the finals based on cost and availability, and while Frazsiers Whip might now be thrilled, Arnett Gardens will hope that hope crowd support can give them the edge to avenge the heavy defeat they suffered at the hands of their opponents in 2024, the last time they met at this stage.

The pairing could not have been any better — two teams enter the ring with similar records (11 wins and 1 draw) and a matching will to walk away with top honours in their first meeting this year.

DOWDIE…it is still step by step and we are coming to play good football. Arnett Gardens is a good team.

LAWRENCE…we have to pick our moments and we can’t get flustered, we have to create our own chances (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

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