5/1/2009 12:44:00 PM Sweeper-keeper Jennings on standby Diminutive Hogges’ midfielder says size doesn’t matter between the posts
Season ending injury? Tim Figureido gets helped off the field in last Friday’s Bermuda Hogges’ loss to Crystal Palace. He tore his ACL and it’s the first major injury of his career. It leaves the Hogges with only one healthy keeper for tonight’s 8pm clash against Harrisburg City Islanders with Keith Jennings standing in as the reserve goalie. *Photo courtesy of Crystal Palace Baltimore
Attacking midfielder Keith Jennings may have to reprise his role as an emergency goalie tonight as the Bermuda Hogges keeper crisis mounts.
Jennings played the last 15 minutes of the Hogges defeat to Real Maryland last weekend in goal after Jason Williams' sending off. And with Williams suspended and Timmy Figureido potentially out for the season with a torn ACL - the first major injury of his 25-year career - Jennings is officially listed as Bermuda's number two keeper for tonight's clash with Harrisburg City Islanders.
Hamilton Parish stopper Nigel Burgess will start between the posts, but with no other keeper in the squad, Jennings will deputise if he gets hurt or sent off.
And with Burgess unable to travel for the bulk of the season it is a role the diminutive playmaker may have to play on a regular basis - unless Kyle Lightbourne is successful in his attempts to add another keeper, which is understood to be Southampton Rangers' Jason Smith, to the roster.
"I'm not worried about that. I can handle it," insisted Jennings. "I started off in goal so it's like going back to my roots. Don't worry about the height, I can jump pretty high - I've got no problems playing the reserve goalkeeper role."
Jennings, who kept a clean sheet in his 15 minutes in Maryland, added: "I had a couple of easy shots to save. Nothing major. My stats are looking pretty good right now."
Jennings added that his ball-playing ability could still be utilized from goal with his vision as 'sweeper-keeper' launching attacking forays from the back.
Paul Scope, co-owner of the Hogges, said Jennings had done a good job against Maryland but admitted he would rather have a specialist keeper as back-up.
"Quite a few of the outfield guys fancy themselves as keepers. Jared Peniston and Keith were almost fighting for the jersey.
"They're both actually decent keepers. Keith's a versatile player in every sense but I hope we don't have to test his ability in goal again.
"The major downside with either he or Jared going in goal is that they are both key players for us in midfield."
Jennings, who came into the squad for a handful of games at the tail end of last season, said his differences with the club, which saw him turn down an offer to play in the Hogges' inaugural season in favour of the Island Soccer League, were in the past.
And, when he's not playing in goal, he hopes to establish himself as the creative force in centre midfield.
"My aim is to stay injury free. After that my goals are all centred around the team. I want to help us get a better league position and hopefully make the play-offs.
"We need to start winning some games to get the fans out. Nobody wants to spend money watching us lose every week.
"It's not just about now, though, it's about the future. If everything does go well there's nothing to say the Hogges won't be an MLS team somewhere down the road. It won't happen for me, I'm too old, but hopefully we're building something for the kids coming out to watch us now to be involved with in the future."
