San Juan Jabloteh are hopeful of a good result when they host Club Santos Laguna on Tuesday night at the Marvin Lee Stadium in their opening CONCACAF Champions’ League Preliminary Round clash from 8pm.
However the 2009 Digicel Pro League runners-up are very aware of challenges that lie ahead.
“They(Santos) are they are no mugs,” said Jabloteh head coach Terry Fenwick. “They are probably the toughest team of this round. They have a terrific side.”
But the former England international says that despite financial struggles faced by the club--with key sponsor CLICO filing bankruptcy early last year--Jabloteh will attempt to upset the Mexicans.
“Psychologically it’s a big test for us,” Fenwick continued. “It’s going to be a huge task for us but we have trained for this game in particular. We have tightened up in some areas where we’ve recognized faults.
“They (Santos) will come here as strong favourites and we will try and upset them. We are hoping that the stadium, the home support and of course our players will combine in this effort.
“We are up for the game and we are hoping to give them something to go away with,” added the Jabloteh coach.
Fenwick commended his players for keeping a healthy team spirit ahead of their 2010 CCL preliminary round clash.
"Our club is still desperately looking for a proper sponsor. And despite battling behind the scenes without proper funding, the players have been terrific."
Jabloteh will be without midfielder duo Cyrano Glen and Elijah Manners through suspension with cards rolling over from the Caribbean Football Union(CFU) Club Champions Cup, and Fenwick remains very disturbed.
"There is absolutely no consistency with the CONCACAF when it comes to suspensions. We have been notified that Cyrano Glen has to serve out a two-match suspension and Elijah Manners a one match suspension for cards picked up in the Final Round of the Champions Cup, but when we faced Joe Public in the Final Round of the CFU tournament the suspension on their player Radanfah Abu Bakr was waived.
We are already light on the ground because we haven’t got a big squad. And we are totally displeased by this."
Fenwick is expected to feature a very familiar squad inclusive of Cleon John in goal and midfielder Marvin Oliver wearing the armband.
2010-2010 CONCACAF Champions’ League
Preliminary Round schedule
(Home teams are mentioned first)
First Leg
Tuesday, July 27
Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Montagua (HON)—8pm
San Juan Jabloteh (TRI) vs. Santos Laguna (MEX)—8pm Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR)—10pm San Francisco FC (PAN) vs. Cruz Azul (MEX)—10pm
Wednesday, July 28
Tauro FC (PAN) vs. Marathon (HON)—8pm
Brujas (CRC) vs. Joe Public (TRI)—10pm
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Metapan (SLV)—10pm
Thursday, July 29
CD FAS (SLV) vs. Xelaju (GUA)—10pm
Second Leg
Tuesday, August 3
Cruz Azul (MEX) vs. San Francisco (PAN)— 8pm Motagua (HON) vs. Toronto FC (CAN)—8pm Metapan (SLV) vs. Seattle (USA)—10pm
Wednesday, August 4
Puerto Rico (PUR) vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (USA)—8pm Santos Laguna (MEX) vs. San Juan Jabloteh (TRI)—10pm Marathon (HON) vs. Tauro (PAN)—10pm
Thursday, August 5
Joe Public (TRI) vs. Brujas (CRC)—8pm
Xelaju (GUA) vs. FAS (SLV)—10pm
Lions off to face Costa Rican club in CCL prelims.
The 2009 Digicel Pro League champions Bmobile Joe Public departed Trinidad on Monday morning for Costa Rica to take on that country’s Brujas FC in their opening CONCACAF Champions’ League Preliminary Round clash on Wednesday 28 from 10pm.
The Preliminary Round begins Tuesday with four matches, including Santos at San Juan Jabloteh and Cruz Azul at San Francisco.'
The two-leg Preliminary Round winners then advance to the six-round Group Stage, which commences August 17 and concludes October 21, whittling the field to the eight knockout-round survivors.
Joe Public head coaches Derek King and Ralph Nelson traveled with a mixture of youth and experience in their 18-man squad to tackle the 2009 Invierno winners at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto on Wednesday night.
Last week King said that his team was very focused on preparations for the CCL after shifting focus from their domestic Digicel Pro League defence following Round One and looks towards advancing into the Group stage.
The Lions inclusive of 2008 Toyota Player of the Year Trent Noel and 2009 Toyota Player of the Year Kerry Baptiste will book in at the Barcelõ San Jose Palacio, San Jose.
Other players include Trinidad and Tobago internationals Marvin Phillip and Glenroy Samuel (goalkeepers), Makan Hislop and Hayden Tinto, Japanese midfielder Yu Hoshide, Keion Goodridge, Kareem Moses, Carlyle Mitchell, Nigel Daniel, Jevon Morris, Marcus Joseph, Micah Lewis, Conrad Smith, Kareem Young, Kareem Joachim and Andre Toussaint.
Joe Public Team and Technical Staff to Costa Rica
Derek King (Head Coach), Ralph Nelson (Head Coach), Rajesh Latchoo—Assistant Coach, Donna-Marie Wickham—Physiotherapist, Chandeo Boodsingh—Sports Therapist, David Prince—Trainer, Joseph Romeo—Team Administrator, Sam Phillip—General Manager, Michael Williams—Equipment Manager.
Players
Marvin Phillip, Glenroy Samuel, Makan Hislop, Keion Goodridge, Kareem Moses, Carlyle Mitchell, Nigel Daniel, Jevon Morris, Marcus Joseph, Yu Hoshide, Trent Noel, Hayden Tinto, Kerry Baptiste, Micah Lewis, Conrad Smith, Kareem Young, Kareem Joachim, Andre Toussaint.