Frazsiers Whip and Arnett Gardens set for unbeaten JWPL final showdown

Frazsiers Whip FC and Arnett Gardens FC will meet in Saturday’s Jamaica Women’s Premier League final with both camps speaking respectfully of each other before the 5:30 pm kick-off at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

Frazsiers Whip, winners of the last three titles, booked their place by defeating Real Mona 6-1 on aggregate. Arnett Gardens reached the decider after moving past Los Perfectos 8-3, setting up a contest between two sides that have not lost all season.

The defending champions are likely to be viewed as favourites, though their semi-final return leg ended 1-1 after they had taken the opening match 5-0.

At the beginning of the campaign, Frazsiers Whip coach Courtney Dowdie told the Jamaica Observer he expected “some difficulties” because of the heavy player movement from last season’s dominant squad. Even so, his team has again set the standard.

Dowdie said he is preparing for a tough assignment. “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,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Friday.

Although six Frazsiers Whip players have made their JWPL debuts this season, Dowdie said the champions are not short on belief. “We have the same confidence in this team that we had in last year’s team,” he said. “We are focussed on us, not on the other team, we have to play the way we want.”

Frazsiers Whip have overwhelmed opponents throughout the campaign, scoring more than 70 goals, including their semi-final matches. Christine Salmon, Shanel Spence and captain Nevillegail Able have combined for 54 of those goals.

Their defensive record has been just as strong, with only five goals conceded across 12 matches. Arnett Gardens coach Garnett Lawrence acknowledged that he has not identified an obvious weakness in the Frazsiers Whip side.

Arnett Gardens advanced to the semi-finals last season before losing to Cavalier SC, but Lawrence believes his current group is capable of stopping Frazsiers Whip’s title run. He said his players must stay composed, choose the right moments and make their openings count.

“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 also finished first in their zone during the opening round, with their only dropped points coming in a 1-1 draw against Cavalier. They have scored 46 goals and conceded five, numbers that underline their own strength heading into the final.

Shikira Douglas has led the South St Andrew-based team with 18 goals, while Tuanashae Hamilton has added six.

Lawrence said Arnett Gardens must show the same desire they displayed in the semi-finals. “We have to bring that same hunger that we have shown in the semi-finals and fight for every thing,” he said.

He also noted that Frazsiers Whip’s recent finals experience gives them an advantage, even with new faces in the squad. Having appeared in the last three finals, he said, “they know how to win, they have what it takes.”

Professional Women’s Football Jamaica Limited chose the venue before the finalists were known, based on cost and availability. While Frazsiers Whip may not be pleased with the setting, Arnett Gardens will hope support at the ground can help them respond to the heavy loss they suffered to the champions in the 2024 final.

The match brings together two teams with identical records of 11 wins and one draw, and it will be their first meeting of the season with the JWPL title at stake.