Happy to assist - Dunbeholden’s Hardware sets target for season

Dunbeholden midfielder Jamiel Hardware has set his sights on at least 15 assists in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) this season.

Hardware, who transferred to Dunbeholden from Mount Pleasant Academy at the end of last season, scored a direct free kick in the 90th minute and helped his team to a 2-1 win over Vere United in their opening match of the season at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence in St Andrew yesterday.

Atapharoy Bygrave got Dunbeholden's opener in the eighth minute, while Lamar Neil scored Vere United's consolation in the 54th.

Hardware, 29, netted two goals and served up four assists for Mount Pleasant Academy last season.

However, despite scoring his first goal of the season, Hardware told STAR Sports that his main focus this season is to become the "assist king" of the league.

"I have been working very hard in training, especially on my fitness and to improve my work rate off the ball, and as the season progresses, I know that I will get better to achieve my goals," he said.

Dunbeholden finished seventh last season but Hardware's aim is to lead them to the final this season.

"I came off the bench with a lot of confidence in this game and once I can maintain this confidence throughout the season and the players are confident then, I believe that we can go all the way," he said.

In the second match of the double header, Tivoli Gardens and Portmore United played to a 1-1 draw. Warner Brown scored for Tivoli Gardens in 43rd minute and Shai Smith netted the equaliser in the 87th.

Today's games see Harbour View meeting Molynes United at the same venue at 1 p.m., then Mount Pleasant face Humble Lion in the second match of the double header at 3:15 p.m.